James Gillray 1756-1815

Etching and engraving with hand colouring, 1796, probably published by H. Humphrey, London, trimmed on the platemark, tip of upper left corner missing, otherwise in good condition; and a large collection of prints, mainly political and moral satirical subjects, some with hand colouring, late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, by or after various artists including Thomas Rowlandson, Daniel Thomas Egerton and the Gihaut Brothers, some with light foxing, a few with minor wear to the edges, small tears, creases, slight paper discoloration, other minor defects

The heading work depicts William Wilberforce and his fellow anti-slavery campaigner, Horsley, Bishop of Rochester and Dean of Westminster.  A deeply cynical observation of the failure of Wilberforce's first anti-slavery Parliamentary Bill of 1791, Gillray's etching was not signed by the artist nor did it bear the name of the publisher. This perhaps indicates that both artist and publisher were fully aware of the outrage such a scandalous cartoon would provoke.