The Commissioners

April 1, 1778

Not on view

This satire represents five British commissioners nominated to negotiate peace with the former American colonies. They kneel before an allegorical representation of America, who sits on barrels of tobacco and rice destined for Germany, France, Holland, and Spain. The commissioners are Lord Admiral Richard Howe, General Sir William Howe, Lord Frederick Carlisle, William Eden and Commodore (Governor) George Johnstone. The print was published before the commissioners had been approved and is inaccurate, since Richard Howe and William Howe both refused to serve under Carlisle's leadership.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Catalogue Raisonné

References

Title: The Commissioners
Publisher: Matthias Darly (British, ca. 1720–1780 London)
Published in: London
Date: April 1, 1778
Medium: Hand-colored etching
Dimensions: plate: 9 3/4 x 13 7/8 in. (24.7 x 35.3 cm)
sheet: 11 7/16 x 17 5/8 in. (29.1 x 44.7 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Gift of William H. Huntington, 1883
Object Number: 83.2.1006
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

By Matthias Darly

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Plate 5: Mandarin & Soldier, from "A New Book of Chinese Designs"

Matthias Darly

George Edwards

1754

Plate 18: Six Varied Pannels, from "A New Book of Chinese Designs"

Matthias Darly

George Edwards

1754

Plate 24: Candlestands, from "A New Book of Chinese Designs"

Matthias Darly

George Edwards

1754

Plate 1: Temple, from "A New Book of Chinese Designs"

Matthias Darly

George Edwards

1754

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.