The Political Hydra

Thomas Rowlandson|S. W. Fores

December 26, 1788 · Hand-colored etching · Drawings and Prints

Seven heads represent Charles James Fox wearing different hair and hats. "Out of Place In Character" has tousled hair and unshaven face. "In Place Out of Character" has powdered hair and well-shaved face. "As he might have been" wears a cap of liberty. "As he wo'd have been" wears a ducal coronet above a powdered head. "As he shoud have been" is a decapitated head wearing a cap and dripping blood. "As he will be" adds the Prince of Wales's coronet, lettered "Regent," above powdered hair. The print satirizes the Regency crisis and Fox's close political association with the George, Prince of Wales.

Artist

Thomas Rowlandson|S. W. Fores

Date

December 26, 1788

Medium

Hand-colored etching

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund and Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, by Exchange, 1970