Gillray Caricatures: Trial of Warren Hastings

Warren Hastings, Governor-General of India, was the subject of an impeachment and trial after his return to England. The procedure was lengthy, the trial itself commenced in 1788 with Hastings only being found not guilty in 1795. The political-banditti assailing the saviour of India (D1360), published in 1786, anticipates the trial. Gillray shows Hastings in a straightforward portrait, albeit wearing eastern dress and mounted on a camel. Edmund Burke, Lord North, and Charles James Fox, his leading opponents, are by contrast heavily caricatured. As well as corrupt self-enrichment, represented by the money bags in Political Banditti, Hastings was accused of physical oppression of Indians.

'Impeachment ticket. For the trial of W-rr-n H-st-ngs Esqr', by James Gillray, circa February 1788, NPG D12943, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'Impeachment ticket. For the trial of W-rr-n H-st-ngs Esqr', by James Gillray, circa February 1788

'Progress of the toilet - The stays - Plate 1', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 26 February 1810, NPG D12944, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'Progress of the toilet - The stays - Plate 1', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 26 February 1810

'Progress of the toilet - The wig - Plate 2', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 26 February 1810, NPG D12945, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'Progress of the toilet - The wig - Plate 2', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 26 February 1810

'Progress of the toilet - Dress completed - Plate 3', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 26 February 1810, NPG D12946, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'Progress of the toilet - Dress completed - Plate 3', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 26 February 1810

'The graces in a high wind', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 26 May 1810, NPG D12947, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'The graces in a high wind', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 26 May 1810

'" - A little music" - or - the delights of harmony', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey, published 20 May 1810

'Grace, fashion, and manners. From the life', by James Gillray, published by George Humphrey, published circa 1818 (1810), NPG D12949, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'Grace, fashion, and manners. From the life', by James Gillray, published by George Humphrey, published circa 1818 (1810)

'A pinch of cephalic', by George Cruikshank, published by George Humphrey, after James Gillray, published 25 January 1822, NPG D12950, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'A pinch of cephalic', by George Cruikshank, published by George Humphrey, after James Gillray, published 25 January 1822

John Philpot Curran ('The master of the scrolls'), probably by James Gillray, published by McCleary, published circa 1809, NPG D12951, © National Portrait Gallery, London — John Philpot Curran ('The master of the scrolls'), probably by James Gillray, published by McCleary, published circa 1809

'A little snuggerer', by James Gillray, possibly after Francis Hawksworth (Hawkesworth), published circa 1801, NPG D12952, © National Portrait Gallery, London — 'A little snuggerer', by James Gillray, possibly after Francis Hawksworth (Hawkesworth), published circa 1801

Gillray Caricatures