The duchess of devonshire (left) walks (right to left) holding a number of small puppet-like men who hang limply, five over her right shoulder, a sixth under her left arm. A signpost (left) inscribed 'corruption' points 'to henrietta street covent garden'. She says, "there are more ways than one of bringing the matter to a point". One of the weavers says, "she'll make plumpers of us". She wears a riding-habit and a hat ornamented with the usual 'fox' favour, a laurel branch, and four foxes' brushes inscribed respectively 'love and \ liberty \ guy \ vaux'. A poor woman, pregnant (right), an infant in her arms, holding a little ragged boy by the hand, watches the duchess. Behind her is a signpost inscribed 'poverty' pointing (right) to 'spittal fields'; it is decorated with a laurel branch. The boy says, "mammy, what is the fine lady going to do with my daddy?" she answers, "she's taking him to the ladies committee room to examine if he's properly qualified for polling. " 17 may 1784
etching. Date: 1784. Dimensions: Height: 250 mm; Width: 347 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. Collection: British Museum. The Force of Friendship (BM 1868,0808.5304)
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