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More Pigs than Teats

Satirical Print
March 5 1806 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Hand-coloured satirical etching. John Bull shown as a yokel looking into a broken-down pigsty at a large pig and her large litter. The 32 piglets have human heads. Bull says: 'O Lord - O Lord! - well! - I never had such a Litter of hungry Pigs in all my life before! - why, they's beyond all count! - where the devil do they think I shall find Wash & Grains for all their Guts? - zookers, why they a drain the poor old Sow to an Otomy! - 'e'cod She'll make but bad Bacon for Boney, when they's all done sucking o' her - !!!'


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleMore Pigs than Teats (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
hand-coloured etching
Brief description
James Gilray. 'More Pigs than Teats'. Caricature etching with multiple portraits of politicians. Published London, 1810s.
Physical description
Hand-coloured satirical etching. John Bull shown as a yokel looking into a broken-down pigsty at a large pig and her large litter. The 32 piglets have human heads. Bull says: 'O Lord - O Lord! - well! - I never had such a Litter of hungry Pigs in all my life before! - why, they's beyond all count! - where the devil do they think I shall find Wash & Grains for all their Guts? - zookers, why they a drain the poor old Sow to an Otomy! - 'e'cod She'll make but bad Bacon for Boney, when they's all done sucking o' her - !!!'
Dimensions
  • Height: 10.5in
  • Width: 8.5in
Object history
According to the British Museum database for their impression of this print (no. J,3.40) the piglets can be identified accordingly:

"In the centre of the struggling mass of pigs is Fox with Grenville on his left. and Grey on his right. He bestrides the Duke of Clarence, whose hind-quarters only (clad in blue and buff) are visible, and supports his right. hind-leg on the back of the Prince of Wales, who is in back view but wearing a ribbon and unmistakable. Grey also clambers over the Prince. On Grenville's l. is his fat nephew, Lord Temple. The head next Grenville is that of Sidmouth, across whose back Lord Henry Petty scrambles open-mouthed. Above Petty, Sheridan scrambles avidly over the sow; Erskine, in his Chancellor's wig scampers over the sow's hind leg. Lauderdale, whose body is chequered to indicate tartan, is behind Grenville, next him (l.) is Vansittart; on the left of the latter is a group of three plump pigs one with the head concealed, the others smiling with complacent anticipation; they are Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn and his two brothers. Behind them (l.) three pigs scamper towards the sow (l. to r.): Tierney, the Duke of Bedford, and Lord Derby. Behind again, and on the extreme left. are five rather smaller animals: George Walpole, Adair (half cut off by the margin), Burdett, Horne Tooke wearing clerical bands, and Lord Carlisle. On the r. of Grey and the Prince are Lord St. Vincent, with a foreleg on the Prince, Courteney, a foreleg on Grey, Lord Spencer who has secured a teat, and Windham who clambers downwards from the sow's shoulder. Between Courteney and Spencer is a pig whose head is concealed, 'not meant for any body'. Climbing up the farther side of the sow and on the r. are Lord Ellenborough in his wig, Lord Fitzwilliam, and Moira who scampers on the creature's back."
(British Museum database)
Bibliographic references
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1943, London: HMSO, 1956.
  • British Museum, Catalogue of Politicial and Personal Satires [c.1320-1832] London, 1870-1954.
Collection
Accession number
E.499-1943

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
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