Political Dreamings

Political Dreamings

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James Gillray

The peace settlement that was signed with France was vigorously argued against by William Windham, the sleeping character in the center of this print. At one point in the debate he asked facetiously whether the terms that allowed France to retain its conquests and former colonies were “idle dreams, the phantoms of my disordered imagination?” Typically, death is seen wearing French colors and treading English accomplishments and icons. Meanwhile, from the head of the bed French royalty executed in the revolution and English, who might be in danger if the revolution spreads across the channel, plead to Windham. Fox, as a demon squats at the foot of the bed and Pitt guides the hand of a young man who writes “Peace” on the death warrant of Brittania whom Napoleon leads to the guillotine. In the background at the far left a French flag flies from the Tower of London.
Artist
James Gillray
(Scottish, 1757 - 1815)
Title
Political Dreamings
Date
1802
Medium
Hand-colored etching
Dimensions
10 3/8 x 15 in. Overall
Credit
Gift of Harold E. Kubly
Accession No.
55.4.5
Classification
Prints
Geography
Scotland

Related

1955, gifted by Harold E. Kubly (Madison, WI) to the University of Wisconsin-Madison; 1967, transferred to the Elvehjem Art Center [now called Chazen Museum of Art]

  • Wright, Thomas and R.H. Evans. "Historical & Descriptive Account of the Caricatures of James Gillray; Comprising a Political and Humorous History of the Latter Part of the Reign of George the Third." New York/London: Benjamin Blom, 1968. p. 214, cat. no. 262

  • British Satire from Hogarth to Cruikshank: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 9/15/2001–11/4/2001

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