William v of orange, a naked fat cupid, lies on his back asleep on a low plateau of grass sprinkled with flowers. He clasps a spade in his folded hands; his shoulders rest against two large money-bags, padlocked and inscribed '24,000,000 ducats'. He has been planting orange-trees, and these surround him, of varying sizes, in pots and in tubs; the oranges are the heads of infants, all with his own features. Dream-figures float towards him on clouds, all women in an advanced state of pregnancy. Behind him (left) floats a milk-woman, her yoke across her shoulders, her pail on her head. Next advances, full-face, a fat billingsgate woman, her basket of fish on her head. These two appear to be shouting at the sleeping cupid. From the right approaches a housemaid carrying a mop; behind her three haymakers, holding rake or pitchfork, approach together, followed by serried ranks of country women all wearing straw hats. After the title: 'vide, the visions in hampton bower. ' 16 september 1796
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1796. Dimensions: Height: 358 mm; Width: 255 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: William V, Prince of Orange. Collection: British Museum. The Orangerie-or-the Dutch Cupid reposing, after the fatigues of Planting.- (BM 1868,0808.6550)
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