The prince of wales lies in bed asleep, clasping a pillow with a rapt expression, his closed eyes directed towards a vision of the princess caroline who leans towards him floating on clouds, a radiant beauty with outstretched arms. A winged figure with the torch of hymen (right) holds up her draperies, while a cupid with bow and arrows flying above the princess's head holds up the heavy curtains of the four-post bed. On the left, also emerging from clouds, the king and queen, caricatured, crouch over the prince's bed. The former, a grotesque figure, holds out a large money-bag inscribed '£150000 pr annm'. The queen holds out a book: 'the art of getting pretty children'. Both have expressions of avid delight. On the left and among clouds persons flee in alarm at the approach of the bride: fox scattering dice from a dice-box, sheridan as a bearded jew wearing a broad-brimmed hat. Above them are three women: the most prominent, mrs. Fitzherbert, with clasped hands; next (?) lady jersey, and between and behind them a young woman wearing a cap (cf. Bmsat 8611). Above their heads two tiny jockeys gallop off, indicating that the prince will give up the turf (cf. Bmsat 7918, &c). From the foot of the bed (left), which extends diagonally across the design from right to left, rolls a cask of 'port' on which an infant bacchus with the head and clumsy figure of lord derby is seated astride; he is about to fall, dropping his glass. On the head of the bed is the prince's coronet with feathers. Beside it (right) is a chamber-pot in which is a bottle of 'velno' (see bmsat 7592). Beneath the title: '"a thousand virtues seem to lackey her, driving far off each thing of sin & guilt. " milton. ' 24 january 1795
hand-coloured etching and aquatint. Date: 1795. Dimensions: Height: 317 mm; Width: 422 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Caroline of Brunswick. Collection: British Museum. The Lover's Dream (BM 1868,0808.6404)
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