A watercolour caricature of the politician Lord Hartington, shown standing to left with his pen behind his ear, holding basket labelled 'SEC FOR INDIA' and packets labelled 'Famine, DEBT, SILENT & F.../ FRONTIE...' Inscribed 'Lord Hartington'.

This is one of a series of watercolour caricatures made by Sem, a French-born artist who worked for the magazine The Hornet from the 1870s, probably acquired by Alexandra, Princess of Wales. The caricatures appear to fall into two groups - a set of politicians, and a set where each figure depicted represents a specific accomplishment, activity or vocation. Other such watercolours by Sem are in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery, London, the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, and the Garrick Club, London. These caricatures do not appear to have been reproduced. 

Lord Hartington was Chief Secretary for Ireland 1870-4, Secretary of State for India 1880-2, Secretary of State for War 1882-5 and MP for N.E. Lancashire 1880-5.

This drawing is housed in an album compiled by Queen Alexandra. For other items in the volume see Queen Alexandra's Scrapbook.