Peter’s Sham Duel or a Dunghill Cock endeavouring to show Game.

Isaac Robert Cruikshank

Peter’s Sham Duel or a Dunghill Cock endeavouring to show Game.

London, G. Humphrey April 1821

Etching

275x365mm

Original hand colouring

£220

A scene at Combe Wood, Kingston satirising the notorious duel between Lord Petersham, heir of the Earl of Harrington, and James Webster Wedderburn an extremely wealthy officer in the Tenth Hussars. On the left is the slender, dandified figure of Lord Petersham, wearing his characteristic brown coat, ‘petersham’ trousers and absurd sugar loaf hat. He skips on one leg, firing his pistol in the air, as his opponent fires, hitting him in the seat of the pants. On the right is the diminutive, scowling figure of James Webster Wedderburn, brandishing his second pistol in his left hand as he fires with the right. In the background Wedderburn’s second stands laughing under a signpost Combe Wood, while the effeminate figure of Lord Foley, Petersham’s second stands nervously under a tree, with the surgeon perched on a tree branch to get a better view of the action. Papers inscribed Court Plaster, Hair powder Don Juan and Almacks lie on the ground by Petersham, while Satisfaction lies next to a blunderbuss by Wedderburn. According to gossip Petersham had been having an affair with Lady Frances, Wedderburn’s wife. A report had appeared in the press reporting a fight in St. James’s Street between Wedderburn and Petersham in which Wedderburn had tried to beat Petersham with his riding whip. After Wedderburn refused to apologise, the duel was fought at Combe Wood, Kingston on April 21st. Shots were harmlessly exchanged and the parties eventually reconciled. Lady Frances had previously been notorious for her affaire with the Duke of Wellington. BM 14283.