The Ball at the Mansion House 1775

Francesco Bartolozzi created this print, “The Ball at the Mansion House,” using etching and engraving techniques. It memorializes a ball held in April of an unknown year for the Right Honorable John Wilkes, the Lord Mayor. The print uses visual codes common in Europe, particularly England, at this time. For example, the presence of cherubs suggests a sense of celebration and heavenly favor. The female figure might be interpreted as an allegorical representation of Liberty, a common symbol during the Enlightenment. Wilkes was a controversial figure known for his advocacy of individual rights and his clashes with the British government. This would have resonated with the print's original audience. To understand this print more deeply, one might research the political climate of the time, including Wilkes's career and the controversies surrounding him. Understanding such social and institutional contexts sheds light on the print’s meaning and significance.