Member of the Executive Board., James Gillray, 1798

Plate 4: above the design: 'french habits, n° 4'. Bedford, conventionally handsome, stands in the 'grand costume' of a director, its magnificence heightened by gillray. His hat is turned up with enormous tricolour ostrich-feathers. Over his blue tunic is a long red cloak, lined with white, which trails on the ground. He wears a lace collar, a white sash with gold tassels, a large sabre. Tunic and cloak are heavily embroidered in gold. He stands in a commanding attitude, his head turned in profile to the left, his right arm extended with pointing forefinger. The walls and pillar (right) of a palatial building form a background. Round the pillar is draped a gold-fringed curtain embroidered 'egalite'; it is tied back to show a ducal coronet and the (bedford) motto 'che sara [sara]'. 18 april 1798 hand-coloured etching. Date: 1798. Dimensions: Height: 257 mm; Width: 198 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford. Collection: British Museum. Membre du Directoire Executif. (BM 1868,0808.6723)