James Gillray facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Gillray
James Gillray
Born	13 August 1756 or 1757 Chelsea, London, England, United Kingdom
Died	1 June 1815 (aged 57 or 58) London, England, United Kingdom
Nationality	English
Occupation	Caricaturist, printmaker

James Gillray (13 August 1756 or 1757 – 1 June 1815) was a British caricaturist and printmaker famous for his etched political and social satires, mainly published between 1792 and 1810.

Gillray has been called "the father of the political cartoon", with his works targeted at George III, prime ministers and generals. Regarded as being one of the most influential cartoonists, Gillray's wit and humour, knowledge of life, keen sense of the humorous, gave him the first place among caricaturists.

The loss of the faro bank (1797)

Gillray's caricatures are generally divided into two classes, the political series and the social. The political caricatures comprise an important and invaluable component of the history of the latter part of the reign of George III. They were circulated not only in Britain but also throughout Europe, and exerted a powerful influence both in Britain and abroad.

Collecting

Auction prices for Gillray's work have increased since the 1970s. At the auction of the Draper Hill Collection at Phillips auctioneers in London in 2001, several key prints sold for more than US$10,000. Since 2002, annual auctions of Caricatures at Bonhams in London, each of which included large selections of Gillray prints, have continued this trend. One painting sold in 2006 for over US$9,000, while another sold in the same year for over US$20,000.

Images for kids

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  Very Slippy-Weather (1808)

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  L'Assemblée Nationale (1804) was called "the most talented caricature that has ever appeared", partly due to its "admirable likenesses". The Prince of Wales paid a large sum of money to have it suppressed and its plate destroyed.

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  The Reception of the Diplomatique (Macartney) and his Suite, at the Court of Pekin. Published in September 1792

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  Monstrous Craws, at a New Coalition Feast (1787)

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  A Voluptuary under the Horrors of Digestion (1792)

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  Temperance Enjoying a Frugal Meal (1792)

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  The Plumb-pudding in Danger (1805). The world being carved up into spheres of influence between Pitt and Napoleon. According to Martin Rowson, it is "probably the most famous political cartoon of all time, it has been stolen over and over and over again by cartoonists ever since."

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  The Cow-Pock—or—the Wonderful Effects of the New Inoculation! (1802). Produced after Edward Jenner administered the first vaccine, Gillray’s work caricatured the fear patients had being vaccinated from smallpox via cowpox that it would make them sprout cowlike appendages.

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  "Maniac-raving's-or-Little Boney in a strong fit". Gillray's caricatures ridiculing Napoleon greatly annoyed the Frenchman, who wanted them suppressed by the British government.

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  Flemish Characters (1793), published by G. Humphrey, 27 St James's Street, 1 January 1822

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  Flemish Characters, published by G. Humphrey, 27 St James's Street, 1 January 1822