Uncorking old sherry

Uncorking old sherry

Item Information

Title:
Uncorking old sherry
Description:
Pitt stands in the House of Commons, facing the opposition benches. He causes a tremendous explosion by uncorking a bottle containing the bloated and scowling face of Sheridan, whose hair swirls up into the neck of the bottle. He stands like a waiter with a napkin, marked with a crown and 'GR' under his left arm. The bottle is between his bent knees and in his right hand is a corkscrew, held directly over the bottle. Similar bottles, corked and labeled, stand on the opposition benches. In the foreground, facing Pitt, are bottles containing the heads of (l. to r.) Tierney, Fox, Windham, and (in profile to the left) Grey. All look up at Pitt with anxious melancholy. Rows of bottles recede in perspective on the back benches. Only three contain heads: a melancholy profile of Burdett, Erskine, and behind these two a partly concealed profile. Next to Burdett is a bottle of 'Whitbreads Small-Beer.' Another bottle is labeled 'Mum.' On the ground behind Pitt lies an open bottle of 'Medicinal Wine' spilling its contents and containing the head of Sidmouth (Addington) with closed eyes, suggesting death rather than sleep. Behind, on the extreme left, is part of the Speaker's chair, only a portion of wig being visible. The violent explosion spreads across the upper part of the design (BM).
Artist:
Gillray, James, 1756-1815
Name on Item:
Jas. Gillray delt.
Date:
March 10, 1805
Format:
Prints
Genre:
Etchings
Caricatures
Satires (Visual works)
Location:
Boston Public Library
Arts Department
Collection (local):
James Gillray (1756-1815). Prints and Drawings
Subjects:
Politicians
Government officials
Authors
Bottles
Heads (Anatomy)
Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823
Tierney, George, 1761-1830
Pitt, William, 1759-1806
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806
Burdett, Francis, 1770-1844
Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845
Windham, William, 1750-1810
Whitbread, Samuel, 1764-1815
Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844
Extent:
1 print : hand-colored etching ; plate mark 29 x 22 cm
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/2z111m55q
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Publisher:
St. James Street London : Publishd by H. Humphrey
Language:
English
Notes:
Title from item.
BM Satires 10375; Wright/Evans 293
Additional information accompanying item: From the 1824 Gillray collection of copies, etched and published by John Miller and W. Blackwood.
Notes (acquisition):
Gift; Louis Black; December 1953
Notes (date):
Date from Wright/Evans.
Reproduction. Date indicated is Gillray's original publication date.
Notes (citation):
Stephens, Frederic George, George, Mary Dorothy. "Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum." British Museum Press, 1870, London.
Wright, Thomas, R. H. Evans. "Historical and descriptive account of the caricatures of James Gillray." Benjamin Blom, 1968, New York.
Identifier:
18_17_000089
Barcode:
36666004443632