A man runs rapidly (left to right) carrying on his shoulders the fat mrs. Hobart, who crouches in a horizontal position, her arms outstretched, her petticoats revealing massive legs. She wears one of the small hats with high cylindrical crowns trimmed with ribbon then fashionable. Paris wears a laurel wreath. Both are in profile to the right. Behind the corner of a house in 'st jamess square' is indicated, with an open window from which a grinning man watches the rape through a small telescope. Paris, who takes a long stride, says, "give me three golden george's or by my mother moon i'll cause another trojen war, & set the square in arms. Pharoah sturt, & all the host shall be engaged. & drowne'd in the black hole. " she screams, "murder fire thieves, my bank is lost & this stark mad man would ravish me also, oh pharaoh, moses, help, or i shall suffer like my sister helen. " below the title is etched: 'nb. It is very well understood that the object of paris in this recent attempt was not the three guineas but the fair helens self. ' 10 april 1792. Hand-coloured etching. Date: 1792. Dimensions: Height: 274 mm; Width: 374 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Albinia Hobart, Countess of Buckinghamshire. Collection: British Museum. The rape of Helen (BM 1851,0901.593)
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