The Benevolent Physician. 'The Benevolent Physician takes no Fee. Of those that need him much in Poverty. To Poor distress'd, and those of small estate. He Money gives, takes only of the great, 1782
Satirical print published by Carington Bowles in London, 1782 Hand-colored mezzotint 350x250 mm British Museum
The interior of a room showing no trace of actual poverty. The invalid, a man, fully dressed but wearing a nightcap, sits in an upholstered arm-chair by the fire. A little girl stands at his knee; at his side on a tray or table are two bowls and a medicine bottle labelled 'as before'. The physician, a well-dressed man wearing a bag-wig, is about to leave the room (right); he puts coins into the hand of a young woman holding an infant. The room is papered, a half-tester bed with curtains stands against the wall. Tea-things are ranged along the chimney-piece, over which is a framed picture of a Christ healing the blind man. Beneath the title is engraved: 'The Benevolent Physician takes no Fee. Of those that need him much in Poverty. To Poor distress'd, and those of small estate He Money gives, takes only of the great.' 1782