A companion print to bmsat 7815. A family group listens to the reading of a will by an elderly lawyer seated on the right, a deed-box on the ground beside him. The will which he holds is inscribed 'in the name of amen i publish and protest. To my eldest son in consequence i bequeath one shilling'. The heir (left), a young man wearing top-boots, looks towards him with an expression of rage, spilling a glass of wine. His mother, distressed but composed, sits beside him, on the extreme left. A butler stands behind, with wine-glasses on a salver, looking with intent concern at the lawyer. A very young man seated (centre) full face, a dog between his legs, eyes his brother with a furtive grin. A young woman, a younger boy, and a little boy playing marbles on the floor, complete the circle. A folding screen is covered with a map on which 'africa', 'cape of good hope', 'egypt', and 'indostan' are indicated. On the wall are pictures: (left to right) moses receiving the tables of the law, 'jacob and esau' (the mess of pottage); a large 'baptism' [of christ], flanked by two bust portraits in oval frames, of the heir's parents: a woman (recognizable) and a cantankerous-looking man in old-fashioned hat and wig. Through an open sash-window (right) is a dignified iron gate within which stand a coach and four. Through a door (left) is seen a staircase, on an upper landing a man holds out a pair of breeches to three others, apparently disposing of his dead master's clothes. Beneath the design is engraved:
'from chaise and four descends th' expectant heir
and next his mother lo' usurps a chair,
the cup untasted trembling in his hand
he hears the will transfer his house & land
while the young favorite the fathers boy
unfolds his vacant face of vulgar joy
so looks the tyrant on a tottering throne
so the fond patriot eyes it as his own. ' reproduced, paston, pl. Ccx. C. 1790
etching and aquatint. Date: between 1785 and 1795. Dimensions: Height: 335 mm; Width: 403 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. The Heir Disinherited (BM 1888,0716.242)
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