Thomas Rowlandson (London 1756-1827)

The present drawing is one of Rowlandson's darker political satires, depicting Death as a skeleton flogging a skeletal horse and chasing monopolisers. He rides over a prostrate grocer whose 'Sugar' loaves and scales are beside him, the latter inscribed 'Short Measure' and 'cheating Weights'. Behind is a statue of Britannia with the lion beside her, around which figures dance. A sign-post to the left is inscribed 'Road to Hell'.
This drawing has a tracing of itself on the verso, allowing the design to be flipped for printing. Versions of the print are in the British Museum, London, and the National Gallery of Art, Washington.