Patriotic burghers attacking the house of Orange / J.S., f.

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James Sayers
1748-1823
Patriotic burghers attacking the house of Orange / J.S., f.
Peel 1662
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Notes: 

Print shows a party of clumsy Dutch burghers with frogs' heads advances through very shallow water to attack a ramshackle thatched booth, one corner of which is visible on the extreme right; from it hangs a sign with the half length portrait of a man in armour inscribed "Prince van Orange". From the same post flies a standard with a double-headed eagle. The leader carries a standard on which is the cap of Liberty and the Lion of the United Provinces with the motto "Concordia Res parvae crescunt"; he smokes a pipe and turns round to his two followers, one of whom (also smoking) fires a musket at random, turning his head aside. The other holds a cocked musket. Behind them (left) a small, foppish military officer with a simian head beats a drum inscribed (?) "L R" [Ludovicus Rex]. He stands on an overturned basket to keep his feet out of the water and turns towards a Dutchman, seated beside (or in) a boat whose sail is partly visible on the extreme left, attempting to rouse him to action. This man refuses to move: his spear terminates in an object resembling the brooms on the masts of ships for sale; his musket leans against a barrel. A number of frogs sit or swim at the feet of the Dutchmen. In the background is a Dutch landscape with water, trees, boats, a church, &c. Three storks fly away. Cf. George.

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