Alderman Wood in the character of Hercules : Encountering the Hydra!
[London] : Published by Benbow, 169, Strand, [ca. 1820]
Note pencilled on lower right corner of sheet: Suppress'd
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Sir Matthew Wood, naked except for the skin of the Nemean Lion, wields a club at the Hydra, which has four heads, saying "Down, down to Hell! / and say I sent thee thither". The nearest head (probably King George IV) says, "Thou shalt not / commit Adultery." The second (probably Bartolomeo Bergami) says, "Non mi ricordo!" The third head, wearing a judge's wig and collar, has no speech bubble, but printed beside beside its profile is "Bill of Pains &c." The fourth head is unidentified, and silent, as is a shadowy fifth at the bottom right. Another unidentified head rests at the center bottom of the image; Wood is either standing on or just behind it.
Benbow, William, 1787-1864, publisher.