Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

The National Assembly, or, Meeting of the three estates / designed by Satire ; delineated by Pythagoras, and executed, according to his system, in the Great Exhibition Room, Old Palace Yard.

William Dent

The National Assembly, or, Meeting of the three estates / designed by Satire ; delineated by Pythagoras, and executed, according to his system, in the Great Exhibition Room, Old Palace Yard.

Published

[London] : Published as the Act directs by W. Dent, Jany 22 1790

etching, touched with blue watercolor
image: 220 x 417 mm; sheet: 255 x 417 cm
Peel 3381
Notes
Title from item.
Cartoon criticizing William Pitt's prolific creation of peers and the perceived growing power of the House of Lords.
With notes numbered 1 through 36 below the design identifying the numerous individuals depicted in the cartoon.
Library's copy trimmed within plate mark.
Provenance

Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.

Summary

A crowded design representing the three estates (incorrectly) as King, Lords, and Commons in Parliament, the title evidently suggested by the meeting of the States-General in France. The members are travestied as animals, the principal ones having human heads and numbers which refer to notes beneath the design. A low barrier (left) divides the Commons from the Lords; on the extreme right is the throne, on which, curled up and asleep, is a lion with the head of George III.

Associated names
Dent, William, active 1783-1793, publisher.
Peel, Robert, 1788-1850, former owner.
Classification
Department
Century prints