The family party / [Williams].

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Charles Williams
active 1797-1830
The family party / [Williams].
etching
221 x 337 mm
Peel 2566
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Summary: 

Four Ministers sit at a round card-table lit by two candles which have burned low; they still hold eight cards, two lie on the table. William Pitt turns round, handing his cards to Henry Addington (right), who stands in his Speaker's wig and robes, rather larger in scale than the others; he says: "Here play my Cards, Henry? I want to retire a little." From his coat-pocket projects a sheaf of papers: 'Loan 88,000,000'. Next Pitt is William Windham, his head against a wall map: 'Plan of Quiberon Bay'. He takes a candle from its socket, saying, "I must get some one to play mine? the candles are almost out? save the pieces?" On his right sits Lord Dundas, in Highland dress, who turns towards him, putting a hand on his shoulder and saying: "and I shall retire behind the Screen a little too Mon". His profile is against a broadside song on the wall: "There is nae Luck about the House New Set by W P. [Pitt] B A." On the extreme left sits Baron Grenville, saying reflectively: "and so shall I."

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