William Heath: Satirical Print : "Rusticating"

This satirical hand coloured engraving by William Heath ridicules the domestic lifestyle of George IV in 1824. He is shown as the gardener of Royal Lodge, Windsor, (then also known as "the cottage") and his intimate friend, Lady Conyngham (the fat one in mauve operating a pump) and her daughter (with the hose). Note the king's bejewelled spade with coat of arms! "Brobdignag Cottage" is a reference to Gulliver's Travels where Brobdignag is a land of giants, so Heath is ridiculing the "cottage" as absurdly large and expensive for his "rustic" fantasy. Royal Lodge was substantially rebuilt in 1831 and became the home of the future George VI and family, and more recently of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor!