The Duke of Wellington in caricature - 1965

Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, was one of the most recognisable figures of English history. Especially after he became prime minister he was a popular subject for caricature artists of the day, given his lack of regard for the public's opinion of him as well as his unique appearance. This book collects together some of the best examples of nineteenth century caricatures of the Duke of Wellington. These images were collected from The Department of Prints and Drawings of the Victoria and Albert Museum and compiled in this volume by John Physick who, in addition to working his entire career at the Victoria and Albert Museum, was a notable scholar, writing numerous volumes, including one on the museum itself. Such caricatures are of unique historical significance, as they typically reflect sentiments that do not necessarily always find their way into the historical record, that of the average person. Each image is accompanied by an explanation of the symbolism employed in the caricature as well as the context of the image. This book is in good condition, with the remnants of an old price sticker, a small stain, and a message reading "Merry Christmas Dad 1980" written in pen. Otherwise, internally there are no obvious issues of condition.