‘The Consultation or Last Hope’, 1808

Description

Mounted hand coloured etching, entitled ‘THE CONSULTATION OR LAST HOPE,’, designed and etched by Thomas Rowlandson, and published by Rudolph Ackermann in 1808.

Here a portly gouty patient sits with each foot on a pillow, surrounded by five doctors. One doctor takes his pulse. Two parsons wait in the background for their turn with the patient. The papers on floor include “Prescription to be shaken before taken”, and “Timothy Screwdon Undertaker Funerals Performed”.

Lettering below reads: “So when Doctors shake their heads, and bid their Patient think of Heaven __ Alls over, good Night”.