Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

A tub for the whale! / Js. Gillray invt. & fect.

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James Gillray
1756-1815

A tub for the whale! / Js. Gillray invt. & fect.

London : Pubd March 14th 1806, by H. Humphrey 27, St James's Street, [1806]
etching and aquatint, hand colored
image: 233 x 353 mm; trimmed sheet: 254 x 365 mm
Bequest of Gordon N. Ray, 1987.
1986.652
Notes
At right of title: Representing an Empty-Barrel tossed out to amuse great Leviathan-John-Bull, in order to divert him from instantly laying violent hands upon ye new Coalition Packet - Vide Swifts Preface to the Tale of a Tub.
Provenance

From the library of Gordon N. Ray.

Summary

Print shows a sea-monster with a cavernous mouth spouting two cascades, labeled 'Ridicule' and 'Contempt', which deluge an open packet-boat manned by the new Ministry. The monster has the horns of a bull and a lashing tail which churns up the water. The boat is in danger also from heavy waves and to her broken mast is lashed a broom to which the single patched sail is tied. (A broom at the masthead signified that the ship was for sale). This sail is filled by a blast from a wind or winged cherub with the head and shoulders of the Prince of Wales, wearing a round hat, with his feathers, and bulky cravat, and surrounded by heavy clouds. Between packet and whale is the barrel thrown out by the crew. This is inscribed 'Real Constitutional Spirits - No Maidstone' with the letters 'MT' [empty]. In the boat are Erskine, Sheridan, Petty, Grenville (dressed as a naval officer), Windham, Spencer, Fox, Grey, and at the tiller, Lord Ellenborough in wig and gown. Partly above the horizon is a rising sun inscribed 'Power'; its rays are 'Cheese Parings', 'Candle Ends', 'Pluralities', 'Dissipation', 'Sensuality', 'Libertinism', 'Private Pickings'.

Associated names
Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher.
Ray, Gordon Norton, 1915-1986, former owner.
Classification
Department