The tipling dutchess returning from canvassing
[London] : Publish'd Aprill [the] 29, 1784, by A. Aitken, No. 2 Orange Court, Drury Lane, [1784]
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
The Duchess of Devonshire, intoxicated, walks arm-in-arm between two supporters, the one on her right being Fox, the other one of his more prominent adherents. Sam House (right) walks before them, acting as a link-boy with a lighted torch, his hat, decorated with a fox's brush, in his right hand. Fox says, "Hold up Georgiana another Qn [? quartern] an we shall soon be at Piccadilly". The Duchess says, "My Eyes & Limbs I shall Spew on the Duke to night". Her other supporter says, pointing to Sam House, "make hast Sam her Grace is taking short in the poop". Sam answers, "I will my lord Heaven bless her Grace". The Duchess wears no hat, but her hair is decorated with a plume ot three large ostrich feathers (cf. BMSat 6530); her breast is bare. Cf. British Museum online catalogue.
Peel, Robert, 1788-1850, former owner.