The Naked Truth (BM 1868,0808.3618)

Satire concerning Walpole's unwillingness to go to war in the 1730s, reproducing both sides of a medal struck circa 1655 to ridicule the subservience of the French and Spanish kings to Oliver Cromwell; to left, a bust portrait of Cromwell in profile looking to right, in armour and laurel wreath; lettered around the medallion: 'Olivar. D. G. RP. Ang. Sco. Hiberniae. Protector.'; to right, Cardinal Fleury taking the place of Cromwell kneeling at the feet of the seated Britannia, his head in her lap and his backside exposed to Walpole and a Dutch ambassador (replacing the French and Spanish ambassadors) who dispute as to who shall have the honour of kissing it first; lettered around the medallion: 'Retire. Toy. L'Honneur. Appartient. Av. Roy. Mon. Maistre. Lovis. le. Grand.' 23rd June 1739
Etching and engraving