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Take up your Bed and Walk

Print
01/10/1829
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This caricature of the Duke of Wellington was published near the end of his tenure as Prime Minister, and is probably a satire on his unstable political position and unpopularity in 1829. The camp bed which he carries on his head refers to that which he famously slept on for much of his life, initially during the Peninsular Wars and later while in residence at Walmer Castle in Kent. The implication is that he will be forced to 'walk' out of office.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleTake up your Bed and Walk (published title)
Materials and techniques
etching, coloured by hand
Brief description
Satirical print, 'Take up your Bed and Walk' by William Heath, London, 1829
Physical description
A hand-coloured etching which depicts the Duke of Wellington in full-length profile, in formal dress with a military medal pinned to his breast, balancing a portable camp-bed on his head.
Style
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
Take up your Bed and Walk!!
Credit line
Bequeathed by John Jones
Subject depicted
Summary
This caricature of the Duke of Wellington was published near the end of his tenure as Prime Minister, and is probably a satire on his unstable political position and unpopularity in 1829. The camp bed which he carries on his head refers to that which he famously slept on for much of his life, initially during the Peninsular Wars and later while in residence at Walmer Castle in Kent. The implication is that he will be forced to 'walk' out of office.
Associated object
1233:94-1882 (Duplicate)
Collection
Accession number
1233:93-1882

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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