Not currently on display at the V&A

James Gillray : The Suppressed Plates

Print
1796-1804 (first published), ca. 1850 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Two plates from an album containing 45 numbered prints on wove paper, the majority printed two per page, recto only. Numbered 25 and 26 respectively, number 25 depicts four latrines, each being used by a different nationality wearing national dress.

1. Engish Convenience- The Water Closet. An overweight alderman is depicted on the latrine, clutching his sides, wearing a chain and gown. One of his legs is swaddled in bandages. Behind him are placards for Turtle Soup and Roast Beef.

2. Scotch Convenience - the Bucket. A woman is viewed from behind seated on an overflowing wooden bucket in an outdoor privy. Two small pigs feed on her droppings.

3. French Convenience - le Commodites. A young woman hovers above the central pit of three wooden latrines. She has one foot on the seat and the other on the floor. On the wall are two papers for chansons.

4. Dutch Convenience - the Lake. A stout figure is viewed from behind, seated on a wooden fence, smoking a pipe. The person defecates over the side, directly into a lake, where white ducks or geese are waiting open-mouthed. In the backround are Dutch houses with high crown-stepped gables. Lettered with titles and the original publisher's name, date, and address.

The second print on the same page is entitled 'Brisk-Cathartic' and depicts an unwell figure seated on a latrine, clutching his stomach and grimacing. He wears a buttoned up coat and a cloth tied around the head, with a pair of long-johns draped across a drying rack in front of him. Lettered with title and original publisher's name and address.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • James Gillray : The Suppressed Plates (popular title)
  • National Conveniences (assigned by artist)
  • Brisk-cathartic (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Engravings on wove paper
Brief description
Two plates from an album of 40 'suppressed' caricatures featuring sexual, scatalogical and politically outrageous subject matter by James Gillray (1756-1815). Issued mid-19th century.
Physical description
Two plates from an album containing 45 numbered prints on wove paper, the majority printed two per page, recto only. Numbered 25 and 26 respectively, number 25 depicts four latrines, each being used by a different nationality wearing national dress.

1. Engish Convenience- The Water Closet. An overweight alderman is depicted on the latrine, clutching his sides, wearing a chain and gown. One of his legs is swaddled in bandages. Behind him are placards for Turtle Soup and Roast Beef.

2. Scotch Convenience - the Bucket. A woman is viewed from behind seated on an overflowing wooden bucket in an outdoor privy. Two small pigs feed on her droppings.

3. French Convenience - le Commodites. A young woman hovers above the central pit of three wooden latrines. She has one foot on the seat and the other on the floor. On the wall are two papers for chansons.

4. Dutch Convenience - the Lake. A stout figure is viewed from behind, seated on a wooden fence, smoking a pipe. The person defecates over the side, directly into a lake, where white ducks or geese are waiting open-mouthed. In the backround are Dutch houses with high crown-stepped gables. Lettered with titles and the original publisher's name, date, and address.

The second print on the same page is entitled 'Brisk-Cathartic' and depicts an unwell figure seated on a latrine, clutching his stomach and grimacing. He wears a buttoned up coat and a cloth tied around the head, with a pair of long-johns draped across a drying rack in front of him. Lettered with title and original publisher's name and address.
Dimensions
  • Height: 63.5cm
  • Sheet width: 48.3cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Pubd. Jan 25th, 1796, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street (Lettered underneath plate 25)
  • Pubd. Jan 28th 1804 by H Humphrey, St James's Street, London (Lettered underneath plate 26)
Credit line
Gift from the Ministry of Justice
Subjects depicted
Bibliographic reference
Collection
Accession number
E.685:15-2014

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Record createdOctober 24, 2014
Record URL
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