A pig in a poke. Whist, whist

Gillray, James, 1756-1815 · December 10, 1788

Four men, their feet cut off by the lower margin, play whist at a rectangular table. Each has one card in his hand and is about to play the last trick, the tricks piled on the table show that each side has six tricks. Sir Joseph Mawbey (left) looks at his partner (right), a very stout man wearing a legal wig, both hold court cards (diamonds). The man seated on the farther side of the table looks sideways at Mawbey. His partner, in back view, is a very thin man whose hair extends grotesquely on each side of his head. He holds the five of diamonds. From Mawbey's pocket projects a document ('Surrey Commission') and a book ('Burn Justice,' Burn's well-known 'Justice of the Peace and Parish Officer,' used by all acting J.P.s). Above his head is a picture of a pig feeding from a trough (BM).