Gillray Caricatures: Collectors and connoisseurs

The foibles of rich men form a rich area for satire and Gillray often targeted art collectors. In A cognocenti contemplating ye beauties of ye antique (D12755), he used objects associated with Sir William Hamilton's interest in the antique to make fun of his domestic situation: at this time his wife Emma was having an affair with Nelson. On the table in front of Hamilton is a broken bust of Lais, an ancient Greek courtesan, representing Emma. Emma and Nelson are also shown on the wall in contemporary portraits labelled 'Cleopatra' and 'Mark Antony', while Hamilton's own image, labelled 'Claudius', is in a frame surmounted by cuckold's horns.

Sir William Hamilton ('From Sir William Hamilton's collection'), by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 8 May 1801, NPG D12761, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Sir William Hamilton ('From Sir William Hamilton's collection'), by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 8 May 1801

'Playing in parts', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, after Brownlow North, published 15 May 1801, NPG D12762, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'Playing in parts', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, after Brownlow North, published 15 May 1801

'Lilliputian-substitutes, equiping for public service', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 28 May 1801, NPG D12763, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'Lilliputian-substitutes, equiping for public service', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 28 May 1801

'Every rogue is a coward', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 6 June 1801, NPG D12764, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'Every rogue is a coward', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 6 June 1801

'Be gone dull care, - I prithee begone from me!', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 16 June 1801, NPG D12765, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'Be gone dull care, - I prithee begone from me!', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 16 June 1801

'A Welch tandem' (Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, 5th Bt; Charles Watkin Williams Wynn; Sir Henry Watkin Williams Wynn), by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 21 June 1801, NPG D12766, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'A Welch tandem' (Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, 5th Bt; Charles Watkin Williams Wynn; Sir Henry Watkin Williams Wynn), by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 21 June 1801

Polly Lyon de Symons (née Goldsmid) ('A lyoness'), by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 13 July 1801, NPG D12767, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Polly Lyon de Symons (née Goldsmid) ('A lyoness'), by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 13 July 1801

'Preliminaries of peace! - or - John Bull, and his little friends "marching to Paris"', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 6 October 1801

'Political dreamings! - Visions of peace! - Perspective horrors!', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 9 November 1801, NPG D12769, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'Political dreamings! - Visions of peace! - Perspective horrors!', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 9 November 1801

'Metallic-tractors', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 11 November 1801, NPG D12770, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'Metallic-tractors', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 11 November 1801

'Forming a line on the parade', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 12 November 1801, NPG D12771, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'Forming a line on the parade', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 12 November 1801

Thomas Ogle (' - "Don't tell me of Major Semple! - ..."'), by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 18 November 1801

Gillray Caricatures