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JAMES GILLRAY- Doctor Sangrado Treating John Bull of the Repletion- 1803
$1,141.01
£845.96
€950
CA$1,567.49
A$1,711.17
CHF 900.95
MX$20,497.80
NOK 11,522.83
SEK 10,520.54
DKK 7,238.66
About the Item
Doctor Sangrado Treating John Bull of the Repletion / A Phantasmagoria – Scene: Summoning an Armed Skeleton
Plate No. 274 — 19th-Century Print from the Original 1803 Copper Plates
Published by Henry G. Bohn, London, circa 1840–1851
This double-sided sheet brings together two of James Gillray’s most famous political satires. Originally published in 1803, these works are held in the British Museum. This copy comes from the celebrated mid-19th-century edition, *The Works of James Gillray from the Original Plates*, produced by Henry G. Bohn, who printed the original copper plates double-sided and added plate number 274.
On the obverse, Doctor Sangrado Treating John Bull of the Repletion delivers a scathing commentary on Britain’s situation at the start of the renewed war against France. John Bull, the nation's iconic figure, is brutally bled by Prime Minister Henry Addington, depicted as "Doctor Sangrado," while Napoleon Bonaparte ("Little Bone") collects the blood—a stark metaphor for Britain's military and colonial anxieties. Figures such as Charles James Fox and Richard Brinsley Sheridan appear on the left, offering ineffective support. At the time, this satire was considered extremely offensive by Addington. This engraving is hand-colored.
The reverse features "A Phantasmagoria – Scene: The Summoning of an Armed Skeleton," a darker, more theatrical vision in which leading British politicians are ridiculed like the witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth, summoning a spectral skeleton symbolizing national peril. The inscription "J. Gillray inv.
fec." confirms that Gillray conceived and engraved the work.
Both sides retain the original edition inscriptions:
• Published by H. Humphrey on the front (1803)
• Published by J. Gillray on the back (1803)
— proof of the authenticity of the compositions before their later inclusion in the Bohn edition.
This work holds a distinguished place in the history of political caricature. Printed from Gillray’s original copper plates, it retains the dramatic line, sharp expression, and narrative power for which he is admired. The presence of two major Napoleonic-era subjects on one sheet, each representing key political tensions of early 19th-century Europe, makes this example particularly attractive to collectors.
Widely recognised as museum-grade satire, these images are preserved in major public institutions, reflecting their lasting cultural importance. The fine visual condition and elegant presentation enhance its value as a decorative artwork, while the provenance — from a celebrated 19th-century edition — ensures historical legitimacy.
A rare opportunity to acquire an authentic piece of Georgian political art — uniting humour, propaganda, and history with Gillray’s unmatched wit and visual imagination.
Measurements
Visible sheet size (within mount):
37 × 26 cm (approx. 14.6 × 10.2 in)
Frame size:
46 × 36 cm (approx. 18.1 × 14.2 in)
- Dimensions:Height: 14.18 in (36 cm)Width: 18.12 in (46 cm)Depth: 0.6 in (1.5 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:Paper,Engraved
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1803
- Condition:Very fresh leaf. Excellent condition.
- Seller Location:Beuzevillette, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2663347569692
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