Procession to The Hustings After A Successful Canvass

Art Historical Context

This lively etching captures a moment from Britain’s fiercely contested 4 general election, when of Charles James Fox and his Whig allies paraded triumphantly to the hustings after a successful canvass. Created on 30 April 1784 and published by William Humphrey, the print draws on the talents of caricaturist Thomas Rowlandson and reflects the active involvement of figures such as Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, and the Prince of Wales in the campaign. The scene pokes gentle fun at the spectacle of electioneering, showing elegantly dressed men and women turning political victory into public theater. As an etching, the medium allowed artists to reach a wide audience with timely political satire, circulating quickly through print shops and private collections. The work’s modest size—roughly ten by fourteen inches—made it easy to display or pass around, underscoring how graphic art shaped public opinion during a period of intense partisan rivalry. Today, this impression in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection offers visitors a vivid glimpse of Georgian politics, where fashion, wit, and social influence mingled on the streets of London.

About the Artist

Henrietta Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough|George, Prince of Wales|Charles James Fox|Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire|William Humphrey|Thomas Rowlandson (British|British|British|British|British|British) · 1761 |1762 |1749 |1757 |1740 |1757 –1821 |1830 |1806 |1806 |1814 |1827

British, Wimbleton, Surrey 1761–1821 Florence|British, London 1762–1830 Windsor|British, 1749–1806|British, Wimbledon, Surrey 1757–1806 Devonshire|British, 1742?–in or before 1814|British, London 1757–1827 London