William III as a Roman emperor 1765 - 1785

Ralph Wood the Younger’s “William III as a Roman Emperor” is a 14-inch earthenware sculpture depicting William III, King of England, Scotland and Ireland, on horseback, dressed in Roman garb. The artwork was created between 1765 and 1785, and is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The sculpture utilizes brown, green, and cream glazes, and depicts a horse rearing up on its hind legs, creating a dynamic and energetic composition. This sculpture, a prime example of the English Staffordshire pottery, is a testament to the political and artistic climate of the 18th century, and it reflects a popular artistic trend of depicting contemporary figures in historical contexts.