Gillray Caricatures: Dreams and visions

Gillray's creatively grotesque imagery was well suited to the illustration of dreams and visions. In some cases such as Political dreamings! – Visions of peace! - Perspective horrors! (D12769) and Delicious dreams! Castles in the air! - Glorious prospects! (D12905) clouds are used to separate the real world from the imaginary. In the first of these the dreaming William Windham is portrayed without caricature, making the dream imagery seem even more grotesque. Windham's speech in parliament against the peace terms then being negotiated had included the question 'are these idle dreams the phantoms of my disordered imagination?' suggesting to Gillray the form of his satire.

'A phantasmagoria; - scene - conjuring-up an armed-skeleton', by and published by James Gillray, published 5 January 1803, NPG D12799, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'A phantasmagoria; - scene - conjuring-up an armed-skeleton', by and published by James Gillray, published 5 January 1803

'A master of ceremonies - sketch'd at the castle - Richmond', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 10 January 1803, NPG D12800, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'A master of ceremonies - sketch'd at the castle - Richmond', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 10 January 1803

'Bat-catching', by and published by James Gillray, published 19 January 1803, NPG D12801, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'Bat-catching', by and published by James Gillray, published 19 January 1803

George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough ('The inexpressible air of dignity, - '), by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 9 March 1803, NPG D12802, © National Portrait Gallery, London — George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough ('The inexpressible air of dignity, - '), by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 9 March 1803

'Physical aid, - or - Britannia recover'd from a trance; - also, the patriotic courage of Sherry Andrew; & a peep thro' the fog', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 14 March 1803, NPG D12803, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'Physical aid, - or - Britannia recover'd from a trance; - also, the patriotic courage of Sherry Andrew; & a peep thro' the fog', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 14 March 1803

John Stewart, 7th Earl of Galloway ('An old encore, at the opera'), by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 1 April 1803, NPG D12804, © National Portrait Gallery, London — John Stewart, 7th Earl of Galloway ('An old encore, at the opera'), by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 1 April 1803

'The Bulstrode siren' (William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland; Elizabeth Billington (née Weichsel)), by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 14 April 1803, NPG D12805, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'The Bulstrode siren' (William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland; Elizabeth Billington (née Weichsel)), by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 14 April 1803

'Doctor Sangrado curing John Bull of repletion - with the kind offices of young Clysterpipe & little Boney -', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 2 May 1803, NPG D12807, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'Doctor Sangrado curing John Bull of repletion - with the kind offices of young Clysterpipe & little Boney -', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 2 May 1803

Alexander Hamilton, 10th Duke of Hamilton ('Equestrian elegance! - or - a noble Scot, metamorphosed'), by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 7 May 1803, NPG D12808, © National Portrait Gallery, London — Alexander Hamilton, 10th Duke of Hamilton ('Equestrian elegance! - or - a noble Scot, metamorphosed'), by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 7 May 1803

Gillray Caricatures