Burke stands full face, frowning; his right arm rests along a high pedestal inscribed 'g. R' which supports a bust of george iii. In his right hand is a book: 'burke on the french revolution'. His left arm hangs by his side, in his left hand are the staff and cap of 'liberty'. The right half of his dress is whole, the coat gold-laced, the pockets brimming over with coins. The left half is ragged, his empty pocket hangs inside out. The head of the king, in profile to the right, wears an arrogant frown. In the background is a mountain, evidently parnassus, crowned with a windmill) on one sail of which fame is precariously poised. Trees and foliage complete the background. Beneath the title is etched:
'"i preserve consistency, by varying my means to secure the unity of my end. "
burkes reflections, p 354'
(quoted (not textually) from the last paragraph of the 'reflections'. 16 november 1791
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1791. Dimensions: Height: 275 mm; Width: 174 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Edmund Burke. Collection: British Museum. A uniform Whig (BM 1868,0808.6122)
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