The prince of wales carries on his head the opera house in the haymarket (as rebuilt after the fire of 1789). He walks towards the left and away from the spectator, his head turned in profile to the left; he says, "i said i would take it all on my own back hic-up but its dam'd heavy". A small figure (? sheridan) looks out of the window, inscribed 'comt room', under the pediment, saying, "take care by geoge [sic] we shall be down". Four other small figures look through skylights in the roof; one (? weltje) says, "oh by gar i do like de show for noting oh i shall tumble"; another says, "you see we can raise ourselves tho we can't raise the wind-". Behind the prince is the colonnade of carlton house; a shabby hoarding conceals the steps leading to it. On the right walks a fashionably dressed man, saying with a cynical smile, "aye, aye, they will all come down together bye & bye". The prince is very carelessly dressed, one stocking slipping down and one shoe unbuckled, cf. Bmsat 7829. 6 april 1791. Hand-coloured etching. Date: 1791. Dimensions: Height: 243 mm; Width: 326 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: George IV, King of the United Kingdom. Collection: British Museum. The modern atlass (BM 1868,0808.6031)
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