The triumph

A fantastic (and fictitious) representation of Humphries after his fight with Mendoza at Odiham on 9 Jan. 1788. Distinguished amateurs chair (left to right) Humphries who sits with his hands on his hips looking down with a scowl at Mendoza (left), who reclines, very sick. The two foremost supporters of Humphries' chair are the Prince of Wales waving his hat, and a stout butcher who puts his right arm round the Prince's waist. Behind them (left) is a man in a furred civic gown (? Alderman Newnham) and a cheering (?) sailor, of grotesque appearance. On the left is a group of Jewish men: one, with the appearance of a rabbi, supports Mendoza, pointing over his shoulder to Lord George Gordon, who stands behind, reading from the 'Talmud'. Another kneels beside Mendoza, tending his wounds. In front of the procession (right) marches George Hanger, turning his head to watch the Prince. In his right hand is his shillelagh, in his left he supports a large banner on which is a picture of Humphries sparring, in a crouching attitude, with the inscription: 'Long live Humphries the Victorious, who in a bloody fight overcame the 12 Tribes of Israel Hallelu. Halle.' On a mound behind Hanger, Major Topham stands facing the procession blowing a trumpet from which issue the words 'The Hero of the World!' In his left hand is a newspaper headed 'Fashionable Advertiser', with the imprint 'J. Bell & Co.' (see BMSat 7211). A woman stands on the extreme right gazing admiringly at Humphries, while behind Topham a cheering crowd receding in perspective watches the procession. Cf. British Museum online catalogue.