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The Bedford Level, 14 April 1795

 Item — Box: LF104/3 Box 1
Reference code: LF104/3/37

Scope and Contents

Artist: James Sayers. Published: Hannah Humphrey. The gate of Bedford House (Bedford Square) with the double doors sufficiently open to show a man descending the steps of the house carrying a sack of plunder. On one side of the gate sits the Duke of Bedford, dressed as a jockey and seated on a saddle supported by trestles; he looks down, his face is concealed by his cap, his arms are folded. At his feet is a paper: 'Motion for Peace with France'. On the opposite side sits a sansculotte astride a pile of plunder topped by a bundle of 'Title De[eds] of Estates in -'. His feet rest on money-bags and on a ducal coronet. He wears a bonnet-rouge and grasps a bag inscribed '£1000', looking towards the Duke. A horizontal beam or 'Bedford Level' touches both their heads, from its centre rises an upright against which hangs a plumb-line, exactly vertical. On each gate-post is a double-headed Sphinx, one head (left) looks down mournfully at Bedford, another (right), with snaky locks, grins down at his companion. Description from the British Museum.

Dates

  • Creation: 14 April 1795

Conditions Governing Access

Available by appointment in our Reading Room

Extent

1 Item(s)

Language of Materials

English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and Archives Repository

Contact:
Western Bank Library
University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield South Yorkshire S10 2TN United Kingdom
+44 (0) 114 222 7299