Blindmans-buff, or, Too many for John Bull / [Gillray].

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James Gillray
Blindmans-buff, or, Too many for John Bull / [Gillray].
hand colored etching
image: 24.5 x 34 cm; plate: 25 x 35 cm; sheet: 26 x 35.8 cm
Peel 2874
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Summary: 

John Bull, blindfolded, is being robbed and bullied by the powers of Europe who are urged on by Pitt. He stands in back view, without his coat, leaning forward with outstretched arms, wearing the wrinkled gaiters by which Gillray denotes the countryman. The Emperor (left), wearing a crown and a long ermine-lined robe decorated with a Habsburg eagle, leans forward from the left, and furtively picks his pocket. He holds a document inscribed 'Imperial Loan'. Prussia, as a Death's Head hussar, stands full-face near the Emperor and snaps his fingers at John Bull, holding out in triumph a money-bag inscribed '£2000000'. On the right John is assailed by France and Holland: a lean and ragged sansculotte with clenched fists kicks him behind; a fat Dutchman, holding a tobacco-pipe, puffs a blast of smoke in his face.

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