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The Triumph of Benevolence

Print
21/04/1788 (published)
Artist/Maker
Gillray, James (engraver)
Robert Wilkinson (publisher)
Place of origin
London (published)

Print, whole-length portrait of John Howard in a prison, bestowing charity on the family of a wounded soldier. Beneath is an inscription in two columns on either side of the title.


Object details

Categories
Portraits
Prints
Object type
Print
TitleThe Triumph of Benevolence (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Stipple and line engraving, and etching on paper
Paper
Etching
Engraving
Stipple Engraving
Brief description
'The Triumph of Benevolence'. Print, whole-length portrait of John Howard, engraving and etching by James Gillray, 1788.
Physical description
Print, whole-length portrait of John Howard in a prison, bestowing charity on the family of a wounded soldier. Beneath is an inscription in two columns on either side of the title.
Dimensions
  • Mount height: 54.5cm
  • Mount width: 74.8cm
Measured by SH 09/09/2011
Content description
Portrait, whole-length, of a man standing in a prison and bestowing charity on the family of a wounded soldier; a composition of seven figures, of which one is the gaoler at the door; one of the children kneels, kissing his left hand; the wife supports the prisoner, on the left.
Style
British School
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Js. Gillray inv. del. et fect. Pubd. Aprl. 21st. 1788 by R. Wilkinson, No. 58 Cornhill.' (Lettered)
  • ''The Triumph of Benevolence' / Pratt / 'A generous morsel at the poor man's need / A sorrow soften'd, or a sigh repress'd, / Surposes all that ever armes won.' Ibid." (Lettered with verse)
Subjects depicted
Charity
Man
Prison
John Howard
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
24229

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O638307/the-triumph-of-benevolence-print-gillray-james/
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