Hercules assisted by Iolas attacks the (Indian) Hydra. Doyle, c1884

John Doyle political satire antique print. Wellington fighting parliament.
The Duke of Wellington (as Hercules with a club), and Lord Brougham (as Hercules's nephew Iolas with a burning brand to seal the many-headed (parliamentary) Hydra to stop each head growing back after it had been killed).

Original hand-coloured lithograph on stone, signed "HB", by the graphic satirist John Doyle (1797-1868). Doyle sketched and lithographed hundreds of social commentary prints between 1825 and 1850 - exposing politicians, royalty and other newsworthy people and their activities. Doyle's entertaining format and insightful social and political comment within his satirical cartoons assured his success as an artist. Many of HB's drawings were acquired by the National Portrait Gallery in London, as true likenesses of important personages of the period.

The most famous of John Doyle's Political and Satirical Prints were lithographs within simple but decorative borders 28 x 35cm (11 x 13.75 inches), laid down on a large buff-coloured page, 36 x 52cm (14.25 x 20.5 inches).