Home
/
P1270
Prints: P1270
Title
An Actor of All Work
Subject
Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of 1769-1852 Drama
Artist
Heath, William
Date
1829
Dimensions
height: 28.2cm
width: 38.7cm
width: 38.7cm
Other materials
Hand coloured etching
Inscription/signature
Top of Page: "ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE/ ACTOR OF ALL WORK/ Pub by S. Gans 15 Southampton Street Strand London/ Sole Publishers of P. Pry's Caicatures"
Provenance
Formerly in the collection of Professor Jim Davis, acquired by the Garrick Club in 2024
Other number
E0162
This print depicts the Duke of Wellington. The caricature plays on the depictions of the comedians Charles Mathews, and John Liston presenting the many roles and characters they were famous for playing. Here the Duke of Wellington is depicted in the middle of the print, dressed as the king behind a table with a long white table cloth. He is surrounded by nine depictions of himself in many roles, some of them make direct reference to the roles played by Mathews. The print is a satire on the Duke of Wellington having too many roles in public life.
