"Pitt as an alchemist, but dressed as usual, sits in his laboratory blowing a furnace with bellows formed of a royal crown. The furnace heats a large glass retort in which the House of Commons is being dissolved: the galleries are collapsing, the Speaker's chair is breaking, he and the clerks are asleep, the broken mace drops from the table, the books fly into the air and ascend with documents, &c, into the curving neck of the retort: 'Coke', 'Acts', 'Statutes', 'Rights of Parliament', 'Magna Charta', 'Bill of Rights', a cap of 'Libertas', the scales of Justice are flying upwards. The Ministerial members applaud; the Opposition are dismayed. Sheridan and Fox, though tiny, are conspicuous on the front bench. A stream of vapour issues from the mouth of the retort containing tiny grovelling figures of abject members who fill both sides of another House of Commons above and behind the alchemist's head, and prostrate themselves before a miniature Pitt, who sits on a throne which replaces the Speaker's chair, and is inscribed 'Perpetual Dictator'. He sits arrogantly, holding a sceptre; his legs are those of a bird of prey (cf. BMSat 7478), one foot is planted on 'Mag[na] C[harta]' and 'Acts of Parl[iament]'. His throne is surmounted by his crest, a stork holding an anchor, with the addition of a crown on the bird's head. A smaller retort on the extreme left, inscribed 'Aqua Regia', adds its vapour to that produced by Pitt. (Aqua Regia, used punningly, with a double meaning, is a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids which converts metals, even gold, into chlorides.) Pitt (the Alchemist) and the figures he is evoking, as well as the ministerialists in the dissolving House, wear the blue coat with red facings of the Windsor uniform. He sits in profile to the right on the model of a high rectangular building, 'a bastille', having a row of windows on the top story only; it is a 'Model of the new Barracks'. From his pocket hangs a paper: 'Receipe - Antidotus Republica'. On the right of the circular furnace is a coal-scuttle, inscribed 'Treasury Cole' (cf. BMSat 6213), and overflowing with guineas. On the other side is a pestle and mortar in which is Britannia's shield, about to be broken up. From the roof hang emblems of nefarious wizardry: a crocodile, a headsman's axe, a scorpion, a bull's head, a locust (cf. BMSat 8669), an asp issuing from an egg, a bat. On the wall are three rows of large jars, some with inscriptions: 'Ointment of Caterpillars' (beside Pitt's head, cf. BMSat 8676), '[Univer]sal Panacea', 'Oil of Influence', 'Extract of British Blood', 'Spirit of Sal: Machiavel.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Alchymist producing an aetherial representation
Description:
Title etched below image., Temporary local subject terms: Parliament dissolutions -- Alchemists -- Allusion to Treasury -- Uniforms: Windsor uniform., and Watermark: J Whatman.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 21st, 1796, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
"Two dogs with human faces hang from a gibbet inscribed 'not Paid for'; two others stand beneath, looking up at them with complacent triumph, these are 'To be Paid for'. The gibbet is formed of two uprights with a cross-bar. The pendent dogs who face each other in profile with expressions of despair are Sheridan (left) and Fox (right); their necks are linked by a chain. Fox has a fox's brush (as in BMSat 8796). He urinates upon Dundas who is immediately beneath him, facing Pitt. Dundas is a fat mongrel, Pitt a lean greyhound (as in BMSat 8797)."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker identified as Gillray in the British Museum catalogue., Ten lines of verse in two columns below title: New grievances so thickly come, and taxes fall so hard sir ..., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Temporary local subject terms: Taxes: allusion to the Dog Tax, April 1796 -- Gibbets., and Mounted to 48 x 34 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. April 12th, 1796, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, and Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811
A fashionably dressed woman sits (left) in profile, in an upright chair, while a carriage waits for her as seen through the window of the well-appointed sitting room. Her loose dress, high to the neck, has two embroidered slits to reveal the breasts. A pretty, buxom nurse holds out an infant, who eagerly sucks the breast thus conveniently laid bare. She wears a turban with two erect feathers, and short sleeves; her gloved right hand holds a closed fan. On the wall behind her is a large picture, 'Maternal Love': a seated woman suckles an infant. Through a high sash-window is seen a corner of the waiting coach, a footman holding open the door, a fat coachman on the box. The coach, hammer-cloth, and the lady's chair are decorated with a baron's coronet. A patterned carpet covers the floor
Alternative Title:
Convenience of modern dress
Description:
Title etched below image.
Publisher:
Pubd. Feby. 15th, 1796, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Topic):
Breast feeding, Carriages & coaches, Clothing & dress, Coach drivers, Hats, Infants, Jewelry, Interiors, Mothers, Parlors, Rugs, and Servants
"The Duke of Bedford, a stalwart, handsome and smiling farmer, strides (left to right) across a newly ploughed field, scattering guineas from a pouch slung to his shoulder; on his back is a large sack inscribed '£'. As he sows the tips of bonnets-rouges and daggers sprout up; behind him (left) they progressively emerge more completely, and appear as little Jacobins, a raised dagger in each hand, crowding in close ranks towards the horizon, where they hail (or are smitten by) thunderbolts which dart from clouds in the upper left corner of the design and explode on reaching the ground. The soil is prepared by Fox, Sheridan, and Lauderdale: Fox's smiling face is the centre of a sun which issues from clouds and shines on Bedford. A bull (John Bull) is harnessed to a plough which is guided by Sheridan wearing a bonnet-rouge. Lauderdale (bare-headed) raises a whip to flog the weary bull."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Bloomsbury farmer planting Bedfordshire wheat
Description:
Title etched below image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Temporary local subject terms: Jacobins -- Farms: satire on Bedfordshire -- Ploughs -- Sowings -- Money: coins as seeds -- Symbols: bonnets rouges.
Publisher:
Pubd. Feby. 3d, 1796, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Bedford, Francis Russell, Duke of, 1765-1802, Lauderdale, James Maitland, Earl of, 1759-1839, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
"Fox addresses a proletarian mob from some point apparently under the portico of St. Paul's, Covent Garden. He stands behind a railing, and bends forward, hat in hand, clasping to his breast the 'Pewter-Pot Bill', saying, "Ever guardian of your most sacred rights, I have opposed the Pewter-Pot-Bill!!!" The crowd look up at him, cheering and shouting "a Mug, a Mug". They wear blue and buff favours. In the foreground are half-length figures of a little chimney-sweep with the name 'C. Fox Westminster' on the front of his cap (by the Act of 1788 these boys had to wear their master's name on their cap), and of a pot-boy, with a string of pewter pots slung to his shoulder; he holds up a foaming pot towards Fox inscribed 'Jack Slang - Tree of Liberty Petty France'. The same inscription is indicated on his pots. Beneath the title: 'Vox populi, - "We'll have a Mug! - a Mug! - a Mug! - Mayor of Garret' A quotation from Foote's comedy (1763)."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker identified as Gillray in the British Museum catalogue., One line of text below title: Vox populi, "We'll have a mug! A mug! A mug! Mayor of Garret., Temporary local subject terms: Bills: allusion to the 'Pewter pot bill' -- Elections -- Hustings -- Chimney-sweeps -- Literature: quotation from Samuel Foote's Mayor of Garrat -- Allusion to the election of the mayor of Garrat., and Mounted to 45 x 31 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 21st, 1796, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
"Sir John Jervis sits in profile to the right at a table; his left hand clutches a pile of guineas, his right fist is raised to emphasize his words which are etched below the title: 'Phaedrus: - "The first Share is mine, because, I bore my part in killing the Prey; - the Second falls to my Lot, because I am King of the Beasts; - & if any one presumes to touch the Third!!!' The table is inscribed 'Unclaimed Dividends'; on it is a book: 'Hints on St Eustatia Prize Money'. On the carpeted floor lie torn papers: [1] 'Petition of Widow of ... . praying for payment of her Husbands dividend.' [2] 'Humble Petition of John lost a Leg in the Battle ...' [3] 'Starving for want of Just dividend,' [4] 'Petition of Major. . . who lost is [?] Beauty', and others which are illegible. On the wall which forms a background is an oval picture of 'Thieves dividing the Spoil', in the centre of four oblong prints: [1] Two bodies hanging from a gallows inscribed 'Peculation \ Tyburn'; [2] a map of 'St Vincents'; [3] 'Loaves & Fishes'; [4] a map of 'Martinico' showing 'Fort Bourbon'. Jervis wears admiral's uniform with a cocked hat and jack-boots."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker identified as Gillray in the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Temporary local subject terms: Prize money -- Pictures amplifying subject: reference to Cape St. Vincent -- Pictures amplifying subject: reference to the conquest of the French West Indies -- Pictures amplifying subject: reference to contributions levied in West Indies -- Obesity., and Mounted to 42 x 28 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. Jany 2d, 1797, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
"A game of cards at a round table in which Lord Jersey (left) and Mrs. Fitzherbert (right) face each other in profile. Lady Jersey sits full-face, her head turned in profile towards her husband and lover: the Prince has left his place (indicated by a stool decorated with his feathers) as Lady Jersey's partner to stand behind Lord Jersey, his hands resting on his head, forefingers raised to form horns as in BMSats 8809, 8811. Lady Jersey has taken seven tricks; her husband has laid on the table before him the ace and three court cards. All the players raise their hands in surprise. The Prince wears his Light Horse uniform (cf. BMSat 8800), his eyes being concealed by his helmet as in BMSat 8811. Lady Jersey wears three tall feathers in her hair, a locket inscribed 'J' hangs from her neck. The fatness of the Prince and Mrs. Fitzherbert contrasts with the leanness of the other two. A candle-sconce is on the wall."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Nunkee gaining the honors
Description:
Title etched below image., Thomas Humphrey is one of the pseudonyms used by Gillray. See British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Temporary local subject terms: Military uniforms: Prince of Wales's Light Horse uniform -- Emblems: Prince of Wales's feathers -- Gambling: card games -- Cuckolds -- Furniture: card table -- Obesity.
Publisher:
Pubd. June 16th, 1796, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Jersey, George Bussey Villiers, Earl of, 1735-1805, Jersey, Frances Villiers, Countess of, 1753-1821, and Fitzherbert, Maria Anne, 1756-1837
"William V of Orange, a naked fat Cupid, lies on his back asleep on a low plateau of grass sprinkled with flowers. He clasps a spade in his folded hands; his shoulders rest against two large money-bags, padlocked and inscribed '24,000,000 Ducats'. He has been planting orange-trees, and these surround him, of varying sizes, in pots and in tubs; the oranges are the heads of infants, all with his own features. Dream-figures float towards him on clouds, all women in an advanced state of pregnancy. Behind him (left) floats a milk-woman, her yoke across her shoulders, her pail on her head. Next advances, full-face, a fat Billingsgate woman, her basket of fish on her head. These two appear to be shouting at the sleeping Cupid. From the right approaches a housemaid carrying a mop; behind her three haymakers, holding rake or pitchfork, approach together, followed by serried ranks of country women all wearing straw hats."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Dutch Cupid reposing after the fatigues of planting
Description:
Title etched below image., Sheet trimmed to plate mark., and Temporary local subject terms: Gardens -- Potted orange trees -- Reference to Hampton Court -- Money: bags of money -- Women: Billingsgate fish wife -- Milk-woman -- Housemaid -- Haymakers -- Country women -- Pregnancy -- Cupid.
Publisher:
Pubd. Septr. 16th, 1796, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
"A stout and florid woman holds up on her two large hands the baby princess, face downwards. The infant holds out her arms towards the Prince of Wales, who advances tipsily through a doorway (right), and touches her hand. He is dishevelled, with unlatched shoes and ungartered stockings; his garter, inscribed 'honi soit', dangles round his right leg. He is followed by M. A. Taylor, on the extreme right, who carries on his head a wicker cradle ornamented with the Prince's feathers. Behind the infant are Fox and Sheridan, stooping obsequiously to kiss her posteriors; Fox clutches her long robe which reaches to the floor. In the background rows of guests are freely sketched, drinking (?) caudle from two-handled cups. The two on the extreme left and in the front row resemble Sandwich and Erskine (to whom a man (not dressed as a servant) hands a tray of steaming cups)."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Wise men's offering
Description:
Title etched below image. and Temporary local subject terms: Furniture: cradles -- Lighting: chandelier.
Publisher:
Pubd. Jany. 9th, 1796, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Charlotte Augusta, Princess of Great Britain, 1796-1817, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Sandwich, John Montagu, Earl of, 1718-1792, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, and Taylor, Michael Angelo, 1757-1834