An Illustrious Visitor from Hombourg

Richard Dighton
An Illustrious Visitor from Hombourg.
London, R. Dighton March 1818
Etching
Original hand-colouring
270x200mm
Slight overall browning
£95
The stout, ugly figure of Prince Frederick Joseph Louis of Hesse-Hombourg stands in profile to the right, hand on hip, wearing an overcoat, top hat and with his whip over his shoulder. Upon his arrival in Britain in 1818 to marry Princess Elizabeth 3rd daughter of George III, he was described by Fremantle as a ‘vulgar-looking German corporal’. In June she and her husband left for Germany, where in 1820, on the death of the prince’s father, they succeeded as Landgrave and Landgravine, and established themselves at the family castle. BM 13017.