Not currently on display at the V&A

James Gillray : The Suppressed Plates

Print
1796 (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 33 and 34 respectively, number 33 depicts The Prince of Wales, overweight and large-chested, wearing a nightcap, dressing gown and slippers, being led into the bed chamber of Lady Jersey by Lord Jersey himself. On the back of the open door to the room is a map of Jersey. Lettered with titles, short captions, artist's initials, and the original publisher's name and address.

The second print on the same page is entitled 'The Jersey Smuggler detected' and depicts the Princess of Wales, holding a candle, approaching the bed of the Prince of Wales. The Prince holds up his hands in dismay as he has been caught with Lady Jersey, who is asleep with her arms around the Prince's neck. On the wall is a map reading 'Map of the road back to Brunswick'. In the background, in an adjacent room, is a sleeping baby in a cradle ornamented with the Prince's feathers. Lettered with titles and the original publisher's name and address.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • James Gillray : The Suppressed Plates (popular title)
  • The Grand Signior Retiring (assigned by artist)
  • The Jersey Smuggler detected; or- Good Cause for Discontent (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 33 and 34 respectively, number 33 depicts The Prince of Wales, overweight and large-chested, wearing a nightcap, dressing gown and slippers, being led into the bed chamber of Lady Jersey by Lord Jersey himself. On the back of the open door to the room is a map of Jersey. Lettered with titles, short captions, artist's initials, and the original publisher's name and address.

The second print on the same page is entitled 'The Jersey Smuggler detected' and depicts the Princess of Wales, holding a candle, approaching the bed of the Prince of Wales. The Prince holds up his hands in dismay as he has been caught with Lady Jersey, who is asleep with her arms around the Prince's neck. On the wall is a map reading 'Map of the road back to Brunswick'. In the background, in an adjacent room, is a sleeping baby in a cradle ornamented with the Prince's feathers. Lettered with titles and the original publisher's name and address.
Dimensions
  • Height: 63.5cm
  • Sheet width: 48.3cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Pubd. May 25th 1796 by H Humphrey, New Bond Street (Lettered underneath plate 33)
  • Pubd May 24th 1796 by H Humphrey, New Bond Street (Lettered underneath plate 34)
Credit line
Gift from the Ministry of Justice
Subjects depicted
Bibliographic reference
The separation of the Prince and Princess and the part taken by Lady Jersey in the affair was well-known and a subject of intense public interest, reflected in the number of times the story was caricatured by Gillray. Aside from the two depicted on this page, see also 'Sketches from Nature!', 'Future Prospects or Symptoms of Love in High Life', 'Fashionable Jockeyship', 'The Odd Trick', and 'Enchantments lately seen upon the Mountains of Wales', among others.
Collection
Accession number
E.685:19-2014

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Record createdOctober 27, 2014
Record URL
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