Sir Robert Walpole at The National Portrait Gallery, London

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Sir Robert Walpole was Britain's first Prime Minister in every sense of the word. He wielded immense power, enjoyed royal backing, and commanded a solid Whig majority in the House of Commons from 1721 to 1742. Despite being accused of corruption and favoritism, his lengthy tenure brought about steady politics and economic prosperity. After Britain's involvement in an unsuccessful war against Spain, Walpole came under intense scrutiny and ultimately resigned in 1742. The level of public discontent towards him can be gauged by comparing John Michael Rysbrack's dignified, classical bust, likely created around 1726, with this derisive engraving from 1743 that mocks the complacency of 'The Late Premier Minister'. The bust is crafted from terracotta by John Michael Rysbrack in 1738. This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are building a digital repository of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for public access at no cost. Scan the World is an open-source community effort; if you have intriguing items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to discover how you can participate.