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He
was born in Chelsea. His father, native of Lanark, was as a
soldier, losing an arm at the Battle of Fontenoy, and was admitted,
first as an inmate, and afterwards as an outdoor pensioner, to Chelsea
Hospital. Gillray started his working life at learning
letter-engraving. This employment,being boring, he travelled for a time
with a company of strolling players. He returned to London as a student
in the Royal Academy, supporting himself by engraving, and probably
issuing a number of caricatures under fictitious names. His
caricatures are almost all in etching, some with
aquatint, a few using stipple . None can correctly be
described as engravings, although this term is often loosely used of
them. Paddy on Horseback, which appeared in 1779, is the
first caricature which is certainly his. Two caricatures on Rodney's
naval victory, issued in 1782, were among the first of the memorable
series of his political sketches.
The name of Gillray's publisher and print seller, Miss Hannah
Humphrey—whose shop was first at 227 Strand, then in New Bond
Street, then in Old Bond Street, and finally in St James's
Street—is personally associated with that of the caricaturist
himself. Gillray lived with Miss (often called Mrs) Humphrey during
most of his working life. He several times thought of marrying her, and
that on one occasion the pair were on their way to the church, when
Gillray said: "This is a foolish affair, methinks, Miss Humphrey. We
live very comfortably together; we had better let well alone." There is
no clear evidence, , to support the stories scandalmongers
invented about their relationship. Gillray's plates were shown in
Humphrey's shop window.His
eyesight
started failing him, causing him to stop work in 1809. Depressed he
turned to drink, and in July 1811 Gillray attempted to kill himself
by throwing himself out of attic window above Humphrey's shop. During
1811 he became mad, although he had
occasional intervals of sanity, when he did his last work. The approach
of madness may have been hastened by his lifestyle. Gillray died on 1
June 1815, and was buried in St James's churchyard, Piccadilly.
A selection of Gillray's works appeared in 1818; but the
first good edition from the original plates was Thomas McLean's, which
was published on quality ragpaper, in 1830. In 1849/1851 Henry George
Bohn put out an edition, from the original plates in a handsome
elephant folio, the coarser sketches—commonly known as the
"Suppressed Plates"—being published in a separate volume.
This is on a poorer paper that can suffer from numerous edge tears as
paper quality was sacrificed for a lighter weight to take the
impressions from an aging plate. . . ie pic may be crisp but unlesss
you watch the paper will be too!
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514. TALES OF "WONDER. Feb. 1st, 1802.
A satire on the rage for the horrible which had been extensively spread
by the publication of " The Monk," " The Bravo of Venice," and "Tales
of Wonder," written by M. G. Lewis.*Originally published by
Hannah Humphrey drawn /etched by James Gillray * Hand
Coloured. Trimmed from a larger sheet, narrow top margin..***from 'The
Genuine
Works of James Gillray, engraved by himself. 2 vols.
1830. ——Illustrative description of the
genuine works of … J. G. [With
a prefatory notice subscribed T. M[’Lean].] ie Thomas McLean
on heavy ragpaper from original plates printed 1830. £75
post inclusive
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320. BRUIN IN HIS BOAT; OR, THE MANAGER IN DISTRESS. June 20th, 1806.
WILBERFORCE. LORD DERBY. LORD STANHOPE.
LORD MELVILLE. WH1TBREAD. LORD SIDMOUTH. Lord Melville, habited as a
Scottish Thane, is standing on the Rock of Innocence; he is discharging
two cannons, one inscribed "Adam" and the other "Plomer" (the names of
his Counsel); with these he shatters to pieces the vessel "
Impeachment." Whitbread is thrown out of it into the water, and is
swimming to save his life. Fox, as " Bruin," is in his boat, standing
upon the " Vanity Cooler;" the flag "Vanity" is floating from the mast
head, the Reports of the Naval Commissioners are inscribed on the sail.
Wilberforce, Lord Stanhope and Lord Derby, as birds of prey, are
hovering around. The " BroadBottom Goose Cap" is seen, with Lord
Sidmouth's head placed in it. On the left of the print, at the top, is
a balance, inscribed " Impartiality." " Integrity" has weighed down
"Defamation." In Lord Melville's perspective is " The Rock of Honour,"
and " Posterity." Hand Coloured. .***from 'The Genuine
Works of James Gillray, engraved by himself. 2 vols.
1830. Originally published by
Hannah Humphrey drawn /etched by James Gillray —Hand Coloured. T larger sheet,
narrow top margin..***from 'The
Genuine
Works of James Gillray, engraved by himself. 2 vols.
1830. ——Illustrative description of the
genuine works of … J. G. [With
a prefatory notice subscribed T. M[’Lean].] ie Thomas McLean
on heavy ragpaper from original plates printed 1830. £105
post inclusive edge tear to base will mend before postage shown prior
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COMFORTS OF A BED OF ROSES. April 21st, 1806.
GHOST OF PITT. FOX. MRS. FOX. NAPOLEON.The conception of this print is
remarkably happy, and Gillray has bestowed particular pains on its
details. The allusion to Fox's illness, and its causes, aggravates the
satire, but most readers will think it had better have been omitted,
and was unnecessary for the illustration of the subject.Fox and Mrs.
Fox are in bed. Fox's slumbers are agonized by the vision of
Buonaparte, whose right hand holds a drawn sword over him, and his left
tightly grasps Fox's collar; resting his right foot on the bed, and his
left on a cannon, inscribed " pour subjuguer le Monde." A fierce
mastiff (John Bull) is flying at Buonaparte. A banner, surmounted by a
bird of prey, and inscribed " Horrors of Invasion," is seen floating
behind Buonaparte. Death's head is looking from under the bed, "
grinning horribly a ghastly smile;" his left arm holds up to Fox's view
an hour-glass, the sand has nearly run out; round his left arm is
entwined a scroll, inscribed " Intemperance, Dropsy, Dissolution."
Death's right hand grasps his spear. The Prussian Eagle is hovering
over Fox's bed (Prussia had recently seized Hanover). On the right of
Fox's bed, Pitt's ghost is endeavouring to rouse him from his sleep,
exclaiming, " Awake, arise, or be for ever fallen." On the right side
of the bed, on the floor, are symbols of Fox's difficulties—"
India Roses :" " Emancipation Roses:" "French Roses:" "Volunteer
Roses." At the bottom of the bed lies " A List of the Broad-Bottom
Administration"—Citizen Volpone, Lord Bogy (Lord Grenville,
nicknamed Bogy Grenville), Bett Armstead (Mrs. Fox), Doctor Clysterpipe
(Lord Sidmouth), Miss Petty (Lord H. Petty). *Coloured etching, 398 x
339 mm*Originally published by
Hannah Humphrey drawn /etched by James Gillray Hand Coloured.
Narrow top margin .***from 'The
Genuine
Works of James Gillray, engraved by himself. 2 vols.
1830. ——Illustrative description of the
genuine works of … J. G. [With
a prefatory notice subscribed T. M[’Lean].] ie Thomas McLean
on heavy ragpaper from original plates printed 1830. £95
post inclusive
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THEATRICAL MENDICANTS RELIEVED. Jan.
15th, 1809.
MRS. SIDDONS. KEMBLE. DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND. When Covent Garden had
been destroyed by fire, John Kemble, who had a great stake in it,
solicited subscriptions for rebuilding it. The Duke of Northumberland,
whose son Kemble had instructed in elocution, gave him the munificent
present of ten thousand pounds. Kemble, as it is well known, insisted
on pronouncing the word aches as though it were written altches, which
is ridiculed in the inscription underneath this picture.Originally
published by
Hannah Humphrey drawn /etched by James Gillray.Hand Coloured. Trimmed
from a larger sheet, narrow base margin..***from 'The
Genuine
Works of James Gillray, engraved by himself. 2 vols.
1830. ——Illustrative description of the
genuine works of … J. G. [With
a prefatory notice subscribed T. M[’Lean].] ie Thomas McLean
on heavy ragpaper from original plates printed 1830. £85
post inclusive
|
479. THE ROYAL LOUNGER.
June 26th, 1804.
DUKE Of CLARENCE. The same personage in another point of view.
Originally published by
Hannah Humphrey drawn /etched by James Gillray Hand
Coloured. ***from
'The
Genuine
Works of James Gillray, engraved by himself. 2 vols.
1830. ——Illustrative description of the
genuine works of … J. G. [With
a prefatory notice subscribed T. M[’Lean].] ie Thomas McLean
on heavy ragpaper from original plates printed 1830. £40
post inclusive
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243. INDEPENDENCE. June 9th, 1799.
TYRWHITT JONES.
Gillray has put into the mouth of Tyrwhitt Jones this speech:—" I
am an independent man, Sir, and I don't care that, who hears me say so
! I don't like wooden shoes ! No, Sir, nor French wooden shoes; no, nor
English wooden shoes, neither; and as to the tall gentleman over the
way, I can tell him I am no Pizarro ! I'll not hold up the devil's tail
to fish for a place, or a pension ! I'm no skulker. No, nor no seceder
neither! I'll not keep out of the way, for fear of being told my own.
Here's my place, and here I ought to speak. I warrant I'll not sneak
into taverns to drink humbug toasts that I am afraid to
explain—not I! My motto is, ' Independence and Old England,' and
that for all the rest of the world.
There—that!—that!—that!"We cannot trace to what
speech this alludes. Pizarro was brought out on the 24th of May ; the
print is dated June the 9th. The occurrence must, therefore, have taken
place in this interval, because he calls Sheridan " Pizarro." There is
not the slightest allusion to any attack of this description made upon
Sheridan by Tyrwhitt Jones, or any other speaker, reported in Hansard's
Debates during the period. The allusion to humbug toasts, &c., is
intended to refer to the speeches and toasts at the Whig Club.The
collectors of prints call the first impressions of the " March to
Finchley" " the Sunday print," because Hogarth by mistake dated it on a
Sunday. Gillray has here made a similar mistake. June the 9th, 1799,
was on a Sunday.Originally published by
Hannah Humphrey drawn /etched by James Gillray Hand
Coloured. .***from
'The
Genuine
Works of James Gillray, engraved by himself. 2 vols.
1830. ——Illustrative description of the
genuine works of … J. G. [With
a prefatory notice subscribed T. M[’Lean].] ie Thomas McLean
on heavy ragpaper from original plates printed 1830. £75
post inclusive
|
HOW TO RIDE WITH ELEGANCE THROUGH THE STREETS. April 8th, 1800.
" Tis not in mortals to command success; Arrah, but we'll do more,
Sempronius, we'll deserve it."LORD LANDAFF.In this print Gillray
represents Lord Landaff exhibiting his equestrian elegance; in a
subsequent one, No. 525, he pourtrays him displaying his dandy
pedestrianism in walking up and down the fashionable streets in company
with his two brothers, the Hon. Montague and George Mathews. Those who
recollect Lord Landaff will at once recognize the exact resemblance of
the rider and his manner.The "Arrah" in the motto might seem to
indicate that Lord Landaff traced his descent from a line of ancestry,
natives of the Emerald Isle; it is true that a collateral branch of the
family settled in Ireland, but the family boasts its descent from the
Principality of Wales. " Edward Mathew, or ap-Mathew, ancestor to the
noble Lord," says Lodge, " resided at Rader in the County of Glamorgan,
about the year 1660, who inherited a good estate, principally
consisting of Chiefries,* being the remains of an ample fortune,
possessed by his ancestors from time immemorial; he was also possessed
of the town of Landaff, f in the same county, whence the present
Lord,}: in whom it now vests, derives his title.§ (See Lodge's
Peerage of Ireland, by Archdall, vol. vii. p. 222.) " Francis, the only
son (of George Mathew), now Lord Landaff, served many years in
Parliament for the county of Tipperary, and was created a peer of this
realm (Ireland), 20th of September, 1783. He had issue Francis James
(the subject of Gillray's print), Montague and George." (See Lodge's
Peerage, vol. vii. p. 222.)The reader, however, must not conclude that
the family of Mathews was a race of dandies. One at least, Admiral
Mathews, distinguished himself by his gallant exploits, and the
important services he rendered to his country during a considerable
portion of the first half of the last century. Charnock calls him "a
brave but unfortunate commander." Originally published by
Hannah Humphrey drawn /etched by James GillrayHand
Coloured. no margin to left***from
'The
Genuine
Works of James Gillray, engraved by himself. 2 vols.
1830. ——Illustrative description of the
genuine works of … J. G. [With
a prefatory notice subscribed T. M[’Lean].] ie Thomas McLean
on heavy ragpaper from original plates printed 1830. £45
post inclusive slight ripple will try to flatten
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LES INVISIBLES. 1810.
A satire on fashionable dress in the year 1810. Originally
published by
Hannah Humphrey drawn /etched by James Gillray Hand Coloured. Trimmed
from a larger sheet, narrow
topmargin..***from 'The
Genuine
Works of James Gillray, engraved by himself. 2 vols.
1830. ——Illustrative description of the
genuine works of … J. G. [With
a prefatory notice subscribed T. M[’Lean].] ie Thomas McLean
on heavy ragpaper from original plates printed 1830. £85
post inclusive
|
19287. THE GENIUS OF FRANCE NURSING HER DARLING. November 26th, 1804.
BUONAPARTE. Another of the numerous caricatures published at this time
for the purpose of embittering the English people against their great
and inveterate enemy. The imperial crown is the plaything after which
he is straining.Originally Published by
Hannah Humphrey in
1799 by James Gillray ***from 'The
Genuine
Works of James Gillray, engraved by himself. 2 vols.
1830. ——Illustrative description of the
genuine works of … J. G. [With
a prefatory notice subscribed T. M[’Lean].] ie Thomas McLean
on heavy ragpaper from original plates printed 1830. *
£75 post
inclusive
|
235. THE TWIN STABS, CASTOR AND POLLUX. May 1th, 1799.
BERKLY. STURT.Two of the Whig politicians of the day, who were equally
celebrated as opponents of the Ministry, and as brewers of ale.
236. THE AFFRIGHTED CENTAUE, AND LION BRITANIQUE. May 7th, 1799.
DUKE OF BEDFORD.The Duke of Bedford was celebrated for his taste for
sporting—the turf as well as the chase. However, he is here
represented under the form of the Centaur, half man and half horse. The
roar set up against him by the British Hon, or at least put into the
lion's mouth, was a sufficient subject for alarm.. Close cut right edge
Originally published by
Hannah Humphrey drawn /etched by James Gillray ** Hand
Coloured. Trimmed
from a
larger sheet, narrow top margin..***All shown with the margin
against a darker carpet to show borders****from 'The
Genuine
Works of James Gillray, engraved by himself. 2 vols.
1830. ——Illustrative description of the
genuine works of … J. G. [With
a prefatory notice subscribed T. M[’Lean].] ie Thomas McLean
on heavy ragpaper from original plates printed 1830. £85
post
inclusive left as apair
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