Bergami Pears–or–Choice Fruit !! 1820

This satirical print, created anonymously in 1820, depicts a woman seated in a luxurious setting. She is holding a pear, a symbol of the Italian nobility, and a scroll reading “Inference.” The title, "Bergami Pears–or–Choice Fruit!!," refers to the scandal surrounding Queen Caroline, the wife of King George IV, and her Italian companion, Bartolomeo Bergami. The print uses humor to comment on the political climate of the time. It is a prime example of the "caricatural" style, popular in the early 19th century, which used exaggeration to lampoon social and political figures.