The vulture of the Constitution [graphic].

Description

Title: The vulture of the Constitution [graphic].
Creator: Gillray, James, 1756-1815, printmaker
Contributor: Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher.
Published / Created: [3 January 1789]
Publication Place: London
Publisher: Pubd. Jany. 3d, 1789, by H. Humphrey, New Bond St.
Abstract: "A vulture with the head of Pitt (in profile to the left) grasps in the left claw the Crown and sceptre, in the other (outstretched) the coronet of the Prince of Wales; the latter he crushes under the weight of his powerful talons, while he bites at the Prince's feathers, one of which he has already plucked out. The gorged bird's bulging breast is inscribed 'Treasury'; under the crown lies 'Magna Charta', torn. The spread of the creature's Avmgs and the stretch of its long heck towards the feathers give an impression of savage rapacity."--British Museum online catalogue
Description: Title etched below image.
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue.
Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Temporary local subject terms: Allusion to Treasury -- Birds: vulture -- Magna Charta -- Prince of Wales's coronet -- Crowns -- Sceptres -- Allusion to Regency crisis, 1788.
Watermark: fleur-de-lis on crowned shield.
Mounted to 29 x 38 cm.
Provenance: Alfred Bowditch Collection; December 1966;
Extent: 1 print : sheet 25 x 36 cm
Language: English

Genre: Caricatures and cartoons
Satires (Visual works) England 1789
Etchings England London 1789
Aquatints England London 1789
Material: etching & aquatint ; and laid paper hand-colored.
Resource Type: still image
Subject (Geographic): Great Britain.
Subject (Name): Pitt, William, 1759-1806
Subject (Topic): Regency
Subjects: Pitt, William, 1759-1806 > Caricatures and cartoons
Regency > Great Britain
England > 1789
England > London > 1789
Riviere & Son > Binding
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley > Ownership
Harvey, Francis > Ownership

Access: Public
Rights: The use of this image may be subject to the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) or to site license or other rights management terms and conditions. The person using the image is liable for any infringement.