COVE

This painting is a satirical depiction of King George IV, ruler of the United Kingdom from 1820 until his death in 1830. In his life, he developed a condition called Dropsy, or Edema, causing him to suffer from swelling in his legs and abdomen due to fluid retention. He also was severely obese which contributed to his gout, an inflamatory condition affecting his joints, leaving him frequently unable to walk. This is shown on his left foot in this image as his foot is wrapped to keep the foot warm, as cold weather could worsen the gout symptoms. King George IV is represneted in this gallery as like Prince Dolor, he was isolated at Windsor Castle due to his ailments. However, what differentiates King George and Prince Dolor is they way they were percieved by the public. While the Little Lame Prince proves himself to be wise, just, and kind to his people, King George was viewed as a symbol of excess due to overindulgence, and his suffereing was seen as deserved.