Not currently on display at the V&A

James Gillray : The Suppressed Plates

Print
1803-5 (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 42 and 43 respectively, number 42 depicts Henry Addington, squatting over a cocked hat full of papers reading place names (Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Domingo, Cape of Good Hope, Egypt, and Malta). A thin and gaunt Napoleon holds him by the neck-tie and brandishes a sabre as long as his own body. Addington pleads with him, 'Pray, do not insist upon Malta! I shall certainly be turned out!'. On the right, the French General, Antoine-François Andréossy, holds his nose and grabs for the hat. Lettered with title, captions, and the original publisher's name and address.

The second print on the same page is entitled 'Palemon and Lavinia' and depicts a two figures in a field on either side of a stile. One is a youngish man, fumbling in his pocket with one hand and holding a pitchfork in the other. He grins fixedly at a hideous woman crouching in a dress and bonnet, who slyly regards him with a knowing look. Lettered with title, artist's initials, caption, and the original publisher's name and address.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • James Gillray : The Suppressed Plates (popular title)
  • Evacuation of Malta (assigned by artist)
  • Palemon and Lavinia (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 42 and 43 respectively, number 42 depicts Henry Addington, squatting over a cocked hat full of papers reading place names (Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Domingo, Cape of Good Hope, Egypt, and Malta). A thin and gaunt Napoleon holds him by the neck-tie and brandishes a sabre as long as his own body. Addington pleads with him, 'Pray, do not insist upon Malta! I shall certainly be turned out!'. On the right, the French General, Antoine-François Andréossy, holds his nose and grabs for the hat. Lettered with title, captions, and the original publisher's name and address.

The second print on the same page is entitled 'Palemon and Lavinia' and depicts a two figures in a field on either side of a stile. One is a youngish man, fumbling in his pocket with one hand and holding a pitchfork in the other. He grins fixedly at a hideous woman crouching in a dress and bonnet, who slyly regards him with a knowing look. Lettered with title, artist's initials, caption, and the original publisher's name and address.
Dimensions
  • Height: 63.5cm
  • Sheet width: 48.3cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Pubd Feb 9th 1803 by H Humphrey, St James's Street (Lettered underneath plate 42)
  • London Publishd Jany 23rd 1805 by H Humphrey, No. 27 St James's Street (Lettered underneath plate 43)
Credit line
Gift from the Ministry of Justice
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
E.685:24-2014

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Record createdOctober 27, 2014
Record URL
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