Print, satirical print, James Gillray, 1791

The recording angel sits full face in the upper part of the design, writing at a long scroll, which rests on a small but very solid rectangular table supported on billowing clouds. He is a sulky-faced naked child, with wide-spread wings and wearing a nightcap. A large tear falls from his right eye. The accusing spirit, a bald-headed, elderly man, his face blotched with drink, with wings and wearing a long robe, in profile to the right, holds up to the angel a paper inscribed "he shall not dye by xxx". The winged heads of a man and woman, poised on the claws of birds of prey, rest on clouds in the upper left corner of the design; he regards her insinuatingly, she grins back. A cherub's winged head flies behind the accusing spirit. Rays of light fall diagonally from the right on the recording angel. Billowing clouds complete the design. Below the title: 'dedicated (without permission) to the revd mr peters. ' 8 april 1791 hand-coloured etching. Date: 1791. Dimensions: Height: 412 mm; Width: 299 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Rev Matthew William Peters. Collection: British Museum. Print, satirical print (BM 1868,0808.6033)