THIS remarkable ‘English School’ satirical oil is recorded in contemporary prints titled Lucifer’s New Row-Barge, a version of which is in the British Museum. It depicts Robert Knight (1675-1744), the cashier of the South Sea Company who in 1719 successfully negotiated with the government of the day to incorporate all the national debt into the South Sea Company. Knight greatly profited personally from this process – and the many bribes to MPs and peers he recorded in a famous green book – and bought an estate in Essex for £20,000.
When in 1721 the bubble burst, Knight escaped to Calais together with his evidence of bribery. Although captured and incarcerated in Antwerp, he was later released as neither government wished to have his incriminating evidence exposed. His estates in England were confiscated and sold for £261,077 but he still had sufficient funds to set up in Rue St-Honoré in Paris as well as an estate near Vincennes. He returned to Essex in 1743.
Painted in 1722, Lucifer’s New Row-Barge shows Knight aboard a regal ship populated by devils and filthy lucre. The numerous annotations in white include lines such as Except None, Cheat All, Show No Remorse of Conscience and My Hearts Zealous for my Countries Ruin [sic].