John bull, a stout, plainly dressed citizen, stands full-face, his hands in his coat-pockets, between townshend (left) and hood (right), who face each other in profile. Townshend stands outside the door of brooks's, he holds out to john bull an open book: 'prosecution for crim con. ' in his right hand he holds strings attached to the wrists of three young women who kneel behind him. From his pocket protrudes a bottle labelled 'butlers wine'. Under his foot is -the broken staff of 'liberty'. Hood, in naval uniform, stands boldly, holding the hilt of his sword and chains attached to the wrists of three french sailors who kneel behind him. Under his foot is a french flag. Behind this group is the sea with battle-ships in action. After the title is etched: '"which way shall i turn me, how shall i decide?' 31 july 1788
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1788. Dimensions: Height: 243 mm; Width: 338 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood. Collection: British Museum. John Bull, in a quandary. (BM 1851,0901.423)
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