Revolution Pillar, William Dent, 1789

A fox, wearing a coat, hangs in profile to the right from a very high gibbet. His large brush is inscribed 'hereditary right' (cf. Bmsat 7381); he is excreting, the ordure being inscribed 'run my mead'. Above the gibbet is a scroll: 'the man of the people high in office'. Three women caper delightedly round the foot of the gallows: justice (with the head of thurlow) (left), with her scales evenly balanced, but with her bandage pushed up so that she can see, and holding her sword against her shoulder, its blade inscribed 'household' continued; she sings, "let's joyful dance and merry sing". Britannia (right) sings "for ch--l--y [fox] is quite the thing"; her shield is inscribed 'no peers no pensions', an allusion to the regency restrictions. Her profile appears to be intended for that of pitt. Liberty, with the head of wilkes, squinting violently, who is between the other two, cries "huzza". The cap of liberty (on its staff) is inscribed with the city arms and the motto 'address', in reference to the city address of thanks to pitt and the ministry for maintaining the right of parliament in the establishment of a regency. See bmsat 7480, &c. C. January 1789 etching with hand-colouring. Date: 1789. Dimensions: Height: 336 mm; Width: 173 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Charles James Fox. Collection: British Museum. Revolution Pillar (BM 1868,0808.5828)