The Viper, a Proof, William Dent, 1788

A colossal woman inscribed 'lady leadenhall' sits on a rectangular pedestal inscribed 'india comy'. A serpent with the head of pitt pierces her breast with a barbed fang, its body is inscribed 'declaratory bill'. She holds up her left hand, exclaiming, "is this the return for having fostered you into power!" on the left is part of the façade of the east india house. A file of soldiers fires point-blank at one of the windows; their banner is inscribed 'controul'. They are the '7th system'. Their officer, 'lord controul' (dundas), stands in highland dress with a drawn sabre, he gapes upwards to receive in his mouth the excrement which is being discharged from the posteriors of three men seated in three windows of the house. From two other windows the head of an ass looks out. Above the roof the head of fox, irradiated like the sun, and inscribed 'candor', smiles down at 'lady leadenhall'. Various emblems lie in the foreground (left to right): a cannon inscribed 'increasing patronage', on it are a crown, a thistle, and the number '57'; beside it are cannon-balls inscribed 'scots pills' and a paper inscribed 'four regiments job'. Round the pedestal of the india company are a broken anchor, a bale, and a shield broken in half on which the words 'charte\ red rights' have been scored through. 6 march 1788 etching. Date: 1788. Dimensions: Height: 246 mm; Width: 202 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. Collection: British Museum. The Viper, a Proof (BM 1868,0808.5693)