The prince of wales, with arms outstretched, and taking an enormous stride stretching almost across the design, is ridden by a little jockey (chifney) who kneels on his shoulders, his whip between his teeth, holding the prince's queue. They are reaching the winning-post, behind which stands the judge, on a block, looking through an oval aperture fixed to the post, his right hand raised. Behind (left) stand three leading members of the jockey club, two of them threaten the jockey with raised whips, saying, "off, off, no second performanc of this harlequin chiff - duck him duck him in the lake" and "d------ him i'll hunt him like a mad bullock, if he escapes me again may i be bung'd in a beer butt. " the former is probably sir charles bunbury, the latter, who is very stout, is identified as t. Bullock. The duke of bedford on the extreme right, wearing a star, says, "gentlemen dont trouble yourselves with him, we'll send him from bedford to coventry. " in the distance are men riding, and a high phaeton. 16 march 1792. Etching. Date: 1792. Dimensions: Height: 244 mm; Width: 384 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford. Collection: British Museum. A hint for an escape at the next spring meeting (BM 1868,0808.6168)
Loading...
