Gillray caricatures: Literary and classical reference

Gillray’s caricatures were not cheap. They were sold to an educated audience who were aware of the political scene and at the same time were able to decipher the prints’ sometimes complex literary allusions. Literary references ranged from Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels in The King of Brobdingnag and Gulliver (D13104) to Shakespeare: Taming of the shrew : - Katharine & Petruchio : - the modern Quixotte, or what you will (D12416). Classical references are more frequent and typified by The Fall of Icarus (D13044). This shows Lord Temple with disintegrating wings formed from the pens and stationery he was said to have appropriated after leaving government office.

Gillray Caricatures