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Henry Kingsbury
active 1776-1798
The battle royal between the Prig Major and Big Bess
Published
[London] : Pub'd 4 Feb. 1788 by S.W. Fores, No. 3 Piccadilly, [1788]
etching, hand colored
plate mark: 247 x 360 mm; sheet: 245 x 350 mm
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan, 1900.
Peel 2587
Notes
Suggested attribution to Kingsbury from British Museum catalogue.
Beneath the title is etched: Fought at Plymouth to the Amusement of their Royal Highness's the Prince of Wales Duke of York & Prince William Henery. This battle lasted only two minutes being Decided on the first onset by a knock down Blow from Big Bess which Entirely Did up the Prig Major. NB Big Bess was carried in Triumph through the Town Exclaiming I have done the Major.
Beneath the title is etched: Fought at Plymouth to the Amusement of their Royal Highness's the Prince of Wales Duke of York & Prince William Henery. This battle lasted only two minutes being Decided on the first onset by a knock down Blow from Big Bess which Entirely Did up the Prig Major. NB Big Bess was carried in Triumph through the Town Exclaiming I have done the Major.
Provenance
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Summary
A sturdy fishwife (left) and George Hanger face each other with clenched fists. Between the combatants in the background are ships at anchor close to the shore. Another fishwife stands behind Bess holding out a lemon. Behind Hanger (right) stand the Prince of Wales and Prince William, the latter in naval coat and striped trousers. Between the Prince and Hanger stands the Duke of York; on the extreme right is a rough-looking sailor. Hanger's club lies at his feet. Cf. British Museum online catalog.
Associated names
Fores, S. W., publisher.
Peel, Robert, 1788-1850, former owner.
Peel, Robert, 1788-1850, former owner.
Classification
Department
Century prints
Catalog link