The Report, William Dent, 1787

The duke of richmond (left) and lord lansdowne (right) fire at each other; the former uses a cannon inscribed 'retort personal', the latter a pop-gun of similar size, inscribed 'personal pop-gun'. Richmond is in armour, which is decorated at waist and knees and on his helmet with fortifications which are emitting blasts of smoke. The balls from lansdowne's weapon, inscribed 'electricity', have knocked off the crest (a rocking-horse) on richmond's helmet. Lansdowne wears his ribbon and star; he closes his eyes to fire. From richmond's gun issue three papers inscribed 'to', 'duplicity', and 'correspondence'. Beneath the design is etched: 'see the account of the altercation, in the house, between a noble d-----, and a certain m------, on the subject of fortifications, and the subsequent report of a duel, in the morning papers of this week. ' 8 march 1787 etching. Date: 1787. Dimensions: Height: 162 mm; Width: 210 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne and 1st Marquess of Lansdowne, . Collection: British Museum. The Report (BM 1868,0808.5627)