The Hervey Conversation Piece, 'The Holland House Group'

William Hogarth (London 1697 - London 1764). Oil painting on canvas, The Hervey Conversation Piece, 'The Holland House Group' by William Hogarth (London 1697 - London 1764), signed, on flower pot, right foreground: W. Hogath, probably 1738. A group of six men in foreground with table in centre and garden roller at right. At left, man in clerical garb stands on chair, with telescope trained on church in right background. Seated man, in green coat and black hat, has walking stick hooked round chair. In centre, two men, left in grey coat, right in blue coat, hold architectural drawing. At right, two men, left seated in red coat, right standing in grey coat with foot on roller in front of seated female statue and tree. Small grey and white dog in left foreground. Round table covered by cloth has fruit, glasses and basket carafe on it. Fruit also on ground below table. Cumulus clouds, blue sky. Boat tied to steps in river on left. In the centre of the group of John, Lord Hervey (1696 - 1743), regarding a plan and eleveation offered to him by Henry Fox, later 1st Lord Holland. Stepehn Fox, later Earl of Ilchester in 1756, seated on left. At the right are 3rd Duke of Marlborough and Thomas Winnington. The parson, standing on the the chair, about to be upturned by Stephen Fox's walking stick, on the left, looking through a telescope, is generally thought to be Peter Willman (or Willemin), the only figure in the group not a member of the Whig party.The location could be intended to be Water Eaton and is not Holland House, as the title suggests, as it was not acquired until 1767. Ickworth, Suffolk (Accredited Museum)