The World's Largest Public Domain Media Search Engine
Uncorking old sherry, James Gillray

Similar

Uncorking old sherry, James Gillray

description

Summary

Pitt stands in the House of Commons, facing the opposition benches. He causes a tremendous explosion by uncorking a bottle containing the bloated and scowling face of Sheridan, whose hair swirls up into the neck of the bottle. He stands like a waiter with a napkin, marked with a crown and 'GR' under his left arm. The bottle is between his bent knees and in his right hand is a corkscrew, held directly over the bottle. Similar bottles, corked and labeled, stand on the opposition benches. In the foreground, facing Pitt, are bottles containing the heads of (l. to r.) Tierney, Fox, Windham, and (in profile to the left) Grey. All look up at Pitt with anxious melancholy. Rows of bottles recede in perspective on the back benches. Only three contain heads: a melancholy profile of Burdett, Erskine, and behind these two a partly concealed profile. Next to Burdett is a bottle of 'Whitbreads Small-Beer.' Another bottle is labeled 'Mum.' On the ground behind Pitt lies an open bottle of 'Medicinal Wine' spilling its contents and containing the head of Sidmouth (Addington) with closed eyes, suggesting death rather than sleep. Behind, on the extreme left, is part of the Speaker's chair, only a portion of wig being visible. The violent explosion spreads across the upper part of the design (BM).
Courtesy of Boston Public Library

date_range

Date

1805
create

Source

Boston Public Library
copyright

Copyright info

Public Domain

Explore more

james gillray 1756 1815 prints and drawings
james gillray 1756 1815 prints and drawings