Weeding by the head gardener, Robert Seymour, circa 1829

Wellington (left) as a gardener, in shirtsleeves, with a blue apron over his white trousers, holds a hoe towards a flower-bed containing monstrous plants: rank leaves on stalks supporting globular money-bags of divers colours, and a mitre. These surround a cross inscribed 'protestant church planted by ewd [sic] vi', which springs from a rosette of leaves inscribed 'truth', 'charity', 'justice', 'humility', 'temperance', 'faith'. The encroaching leaves are: 'pomps & vanities', 'gluttony', 'covetousness', 'opression', 'drunkeness', 'pride'. On the bags are sums varying from '£80000' to '£5000'; some disgorge coins-resembling bunches of fruit. The flower-bed is backed by a low ornamental wall on which the king leans, looking over to say: 'mind arthur you dont injure the church'. The duke, holding a lorgnette to his eyes, answers: 'oh no sir only i must hoe away some of these weeds or they'll choke it'. In the background are two birds wearing clerical hat, wig, and bands; one sits on the withered branch of a tree; they cry 'caw caw' and 'caw'. C. June 1829 hand-coloured etching. Date: circa 1829. Dimensions: Height: 247 mm; ; Width: 345 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Edward IV, King of England. Collection: British Museum. Weeding by the head gardener (BM 1868,0808.9048)