1782 cartoon by james gillray, depicting sir richard worsley helping george bisset view his wife, seymour fleming, naked in a bath-house. The caption reads: "sir richard worse-than-sly exposing his wifes bottom; – o fye!". The scene depicts sir richard worsley, 7th baronet, on whose shoulders is perched his near neighbour and friend captain george bissett, viewing sir richard's naked wife through a window. The location is apparently at the bath house in maidstone, where in the court case of 1782 it was alleged that worsley had displayed his naked wife to bisset. Possibly at appuldurcombe house on the isle of wight (map of isle of wight on the wall), the worseley seat. Bisset says to worsley: "charming view of the back settlements sir richard" ("back settlements" presumably being some landscape feature), whilst lady worseley's maid says to her mistress "good lack (? sic) my lady, the captn will see all for nothing". On a parchment on the ground by sir richard's hat is written "my yoke is easy and my burden light" (matthew 11:28–30). The image may refer to the fact that in 1782 worsley brought a "criminal conversation" case for £20,000 against bissett but the jury decided that worsley had connived in the adultery and awarded him only one shilling in damages. Date: 1782. Dimensions: height: 335 mm (13.18 in); width: 230 mm (9.05 in). Medium: etching print. Collection: National Portrait Gallery. Gillray - Sir Richard Worse-than-sly, exposing his wife's bottom; - o fye! (cropped)
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