The Surprising Stone Eater, with appetite of farmer, he'll feast on the hardest stones brought from the East, William Dent, 1788

George iii (half length), in profile to the left, leans back, a stone in his mouth, looking anxiously at a hand which holds out to him another 'stone'. An open box inscribed 'bulse' is on the left, as if held by the person (cut off by the left margin) whose hand proffers the stone, and whose sleeve indicates hastings. On both stones is the diamond of a pack of cards. The design is enclosed in an irregular diamond within a rectangle, in each corner of which is a quadrilateral diamond. Beneath the title is etched: 'with appetite of farmer he'll feast on the hardest stones brought from the east. ' 28 march 1788 etching with hand-colouring. Date: 1788. Dimensions: Height: 148 mm; Width: 102 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: George III, King of the United Kingdom. Collection: British Museum. The Surprising Stone Eater, with appetite of farmer, he'll feast on the hardest stones brought from the East (BM 1868,0808.5702)