Copper plate printed cotton with King George III hunting in Windsor Park 1785

This copper plate printed cotton depicts King George III hunting in Windsor Park, a scene brimming with symbols of power and tradition. The hunt, a motif dating back to antiquity, has always been associated with nobility, prowess, and control over nature. Notice how the royal hunters, mounted on horseback, pursue their quarry through the dense forest. This chase is reminiscent of classical depictions of the goddess Diana, or Artemis, the huntress, a symbol of untamed power. Yet here, the classical motif has been domesticated, translated into a scene of royal leisure. The image is charged with energy, yet it serves as a potent reminder of the cyclical nature of power and the enduring appeal of primal instincts. It’s a dance of life and death, rendered in cloth.