The new Whig administration.

Thomas Howell Jones

The new Whig administration.

London , S W Fores, March 1828

Etching

Original hand colouring

215 x 315 mm

£240

The title has the ‘H’ in Whig crossed hatched over, so as to read ‘Wig’

George IV (left), sits in a throne-like chair at an oddly ornate table, with Lady Conyngham beside him, inspecting wigs which a French coiffeur displays. The Frenchman points to a row of wig-blocks on stands, each stand with a realistic and well-characterized, but unrecognizable, head wearing a naturalistic wig, which is a carefully arranged mop of curls; he says, bowing, Dare, sare, just arrived is de most grand, de most putiful, de most accomodating whigs dat you sare did ever employè; dese vill suit you to a hair and be de ornament of your Court, and de good of de Country; desé vill keep close;—and neve [sic] leave dere situations until you do trow dem off— The King, his hand resting on one of the wigs, while Lady Conyngham holds out another, answers: Why I hope they will be more serviceable than the last—-for I was disgusted with them— The man answers: Ah! ah! Sore dere vas de Rat among dem.