Rowlandson (Thomas)

, William Humphrey, 1784.
one of only a few anti-Pitt satires, first published in March 1784, then re-issued in William Humphrey’s ‘The History of the Westminster Election’, in the following October, alluding to the impending dissolution of parliament in readiness for the election. The House of Commons doubles as an auction room with Pitt sitting on a high rostrum under the royal arms, the speaker, Cornwall, sitting as the clerk just below. Pitt raises his gavel, captioned Prerogative, towards Dundas, the porter, struggling under the weight of a pyramid of books held above his head. These are lot 1, ‘The Rights of the People in 558 Vol’, the number of MPs at that time. Around the walls are lot 2, the Magna Carta, lot 3, ‘Obsolete Publick Acts’, and more representing symbols of public office. To the left are the ‘Chosen Representers’, members of the Commons walking out of the chamber, while on the right are the ‘Hereditary Virtuosies’, members of the Lords gathered around the rostrum. Of the Commons members, only Fox faces the auctioneer in a defiant stance, declaring ‘I am determined to bid with Spirit for lot 1, he shall pay dear for it that outbids me’.

The Westminster Election proved a huge boost to Rowlandson’s burgeoning career as a caricaturist, the political upheaval providing ample opportunities for him to lampoon both Fox and Pitt, which he did with relish, happily responding to demand from both sides..
250 by 350mm (9¾ by 13¾ inches).