Cartoon: Disciples catching the mantle - the spirit of darkness overshadowing the priest of Baal
TitleCartoon: Disciples catching the mantle - the spirit of darkness overshadowing the priest of Baal
ReferenceFRAMED/723
Date
1808
Production date 1808 - 1808
Scope and ContentFrom M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VIII, 1947:
Pitt is borne upwards (left to right) in a chariot of clouds of flame drawn by four horses snorting fire, while his eyes are fixed on a broad beam of light inscribed 'Immortality'. He throws down his mantle, which his disciples below hold up their arms to receive. On the mantle is a flaming sword across a pair of balanced scales. Rays from the mantle strike down on the disciples; thunderbolts radiate from it, against the 'Republican-Mantle' with which the ghost of Fox tries to shelter the Opposition, and also against a tiny Napoleon. The disciples are grouped on a cliff, 'The Rock of Ages', rising from the sea. They surround a rectangular altar: 'The Altar of the Constitution'. Its two pilasters are 'Prudence' and 'Fortitude'. On this is a book inscribed 'Truth' on which is a royal crown. At its base lies 'Magna Charta'. The central and most prominent of the disciples is Canning, as the pupil of Pitt; he stands behind the altar. Before it kneel Eldon (left) in Chancellor's wig and gown with the Purse of the Great Seal, and Perceval (right) in the gown of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Next to Eldon (left) kneels Portland. On each side of Canning stand Hawkesbury (left) and Castlereagh (right). Behind are (?) Camden (left) and Melville (right). The four peers wear peer's robes.
On the right, and in the foreground, separated from the 'Rock of Ages' by a narrow chasm, is the 'Broad-Bottom-Dunghill'. On this are the Opposition fleeing from the thunderbolts from the Mantle despite the gigantic figure of Fox who flies over them, protectingly spreading his cloak. Fox is naked under his cloak, except for a bonnet rouge, and a shroud which floats back from his head. He has webbed wings and a cloven hoof, and he looks up at the Mantle. His cloak is set on fire by a thunderbolt. The most prominent of the 'Priests of Baal' is Grenville, who stoops, clutching at his rent breeches; a cardinal's hat falling off his head, and over his coat he wears a short cope-like garment with a large cross on it. In his pocket is a paper: 'Comforts Charley's Old Breeches'. Grey, naked and emaciated, drops his 'Torch of Discord', and a bonnet rouge flies from his head. Round his body a thin snake is twined, darting a fang at the Mantle. Grattan, wearing a steeple-crowned hat and cloak, runs off with his 'Catholic Petition' under his arm, dropping a dark lantern. Next him an overturned barrel pours its contents down the dunghill, carrying off the head of the cask on which are the features of Whitbread. Next on the r. is Sidmouth, lying on his back, dropping a bottle of 'Gentle Emetic'. St. Vincent, in naval uniform and holding a crutch, is stopped by Sidmouth's legs which wave in the air. Behind him flees Lauderdale, wearing Highland dress with a dagger in his belt. On the right are Erskine, and Sheridan. Above these are Windham and Holland. The former removes a mask with smooth conventional features, revealing a hag-ridden face. Holland clutches at his bonnet rouge, inscribed 'Egalite'. The two figures at the apex of the group are the spectacled Buckingham in Papal robes and Moira. The former drops his crosier, and his tiara falls off, the latter loses his cocked hat in the blast from the Mantle. On the dunghill are toadstools, and three toads which sit in a row vainly spitting at the 'Rock of Ages'. In the background is the sea, with a British man-of-war, the 'Royal George', firing at the French coast, where a tiny Napoleon drops his horse's reins and loses his hat. Behind are encampments and a French army.
With two additional cartoons by Gillray on the reverse: The loyal address - or - the procession of the Hampshire hogs from Botley to St James's and Patriot petitions on the conventions
Pitt is borne upwards (left to right) in a chariot of clouds of flame drawn by four horses snorting fire, while his eyes are fixed on a broad beam of light inscribed 'Immortality'. He throws down his mantle, which his disciples below hold up their arms to receive. On the mantle is a flaming sword across a pair of balanced scales. Rays from the mantle strike down on the disciples; thunderbolts radiate from it, against the 'Republican-Mantle' with which the ghost of Fox tries to shelter the Opposition, and also against a tiny Napoleon. The disciples are grouped on a cliff, 'The Rock of Ages', rising from the sea. They surround a rectangular altar: 'The Altar of the Constitution'. Its two pilasters are 'Prudence' and 'Fortitude'. On this is a book inscribed 'Truth' on which is a royal crown. At its base lies 'Magna Charta'. The central and most prominent of the disciples is Canning, as the pupil of Pitt; he stands behind the altar. Before it kneel Eldon (left) in Chancellor's wig and gown with the Purse of the Great Seal, and Perceval (right) in the gown of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Next to Eldon (left) kneels Portland. On each side of Canning stand Hawkesbury (left) and Castlereagh (right). Behind are (?) Camden (left) and Melville (right). The four peers wear peer's robes.
On the right, and in the foreground, separated from the 'Rock of Ages' by a narrow chasm, is the 'Broad-Bottom-Dunghill'. On this are the Opposition fleeing from the thunderbolts from the Mantle despite the gigantic figure of Fox who flies over them, protectingly spreading his cloak. Fox is naked under his cloak, except for a bonnet rouge, and a shroud which floats back from his head. He has webbed wings and a cloven hoof, and he looks up at the Mantle. His cloak is set on fire by a thunderbolt. The most prominent of the 'Priests of Baal' is Grenville, who stoops, clutching at his rent breeches; a cardinal's hat falling off his head, and over his coat he wears a short cope-like garment with a large cross on it. In his pocket is a paper: 'Comforts Charley's Old Breeches'. Grey, naked and emaciated, drops his 'Torch of Discord', and a bonnet rouge flies from his head. Round his body a thin snake is twined, darting a fang at the Mantle. Grattan, wearing a steeple-crowned hat and cloak, runs off with his 'Catholic Petition' under his arm, dropping a dark lantern. Next him an overturned barrel pours its contents down the dunghill, carrying off the head of the cask on which are the features of Whitbread. Next on the r. is Sidmouth, lying on his back, dropping a bottle of 'Gentle Emetic'. St. Vincent, in naval uniform and holding a crutch, is stopped by Sidmouth's legs which wave in the air. Behind him flees Lauderdale, wearing Highland dress with a dagger in his belt. On the right are Erskine, and Sheridan. Above these are Windham and Holland. The former removes a mask with smooth conventional features, revealing a hag-ridden face. Holland clutches at his bonnet rouge, inscribed 'Egalite'. The two figures at the apex of the group are the spectacled Buckingham in Papal robes and Moira. The former drops his crosier, and his tiara falls off, the latter loses his cocked hat in the blast from the Mantle. On the dunghill are toadstools, and three toads which sit in a row vainly spitting at the 'Rock of Ages'. In the background is the sea, with a British man-of-war, the 'Royal George', firing at the French coast, where a tiny Napoleon drops his horse's reins and loses his hat. Behind are encampments and a French army.
With two additional cartoons by Gillray on the reverse: The loyal address - or - the procession of the Hampshire hogs from Botley to St James's and Patriot petitions on the conventions
Extent1 item
Physical descriptionDimensions (WxH): 43cm x 57cm. Paper
LanguageEnglish
Archival historyPage from The Works of James Gillray from the Original Plates with the Addition of Many Subjects Not Before Collected
(1847-1851), published by Henry G. Bohn, London and written by Charles Whiting
(1847-1851), published by Henry G. Bohn, London and written by Charles Whiting
Persons keywordGillray, James
SubjectHumour, Religion, Parliamentary reform
Conditions governing accessOpen
Levelfile
Normal locationAA Framed Box 7 (Cellar)