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- subject matching 'Anthropomorphism'

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Gillray often used animal images in his satirical prints. Portraying Charles James Fox as a human figure with fox’s head and brush, or as an actual fox, is an obvious wordplay which he used frequently in prints of the early 1780s: as with Changing places; - alias; Fox stinking the badger out of his nest (D12982). Such symbolic images were a little old-fashioned by the late eighteenth century however. In John Bull and his dog Faithful (D12566) Gillray uses animals in a different way, by applying their characteristics to the targets of his satire. In this print John Bull is pestered by dogs representing opposition MPs, while the government dog, William Pitt, leads him dangerously close to an abyss. At the time the print was published the imagery was particularly relevant, as a tax on dogs, an early form of licence, had been proposed.

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'John Bull triumphant', by James Gillray, published by  William Humphrey - NPG D12283

'John Bull triumphant'

by James Gillray, published by William Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 4 January 1780
NPG D12283

'And Adam had power over all the beasts of the earth', probably by James Gillray, published by  William Humphrey - NPG D12288

'And Adam had power over all the beasts of the earth'

probably by James Gillray, published by William Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 9 January 1780
NPG D12288

'Regardez moi', by James Gillray - NPG D12297

'Regardez moi'

by James Gillray
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, 1781?
NPG D12297

Samuel Johnson ('Old wisdom blinking at the stars'), by James Gillray, published by  W. Rennie - NPG D12300

Samuel Johnson ('Old wisdom blinking at the stars')

by James Gillray, published by W. Rennie
hand-coloured etching, published 10 March 1782
NPG D12300

'The discarded viceroy silenced' (Charles James Fox and two others), by James Gillray, published by  Elizabeth d'Achery - NPG D12320

'The discarded viceroy silenced' (Charles James Fox and two others)

by James Gillray, published by Elizabeth d'Achery
hand-coloured etching, published 22 May 1782
NPG D12320

'Changing places; - alias; Fox stinking the badger out of his nest', by James Gillray, published by  William Humphrey - NPG D12982

'Changing places; - alias; Fox stinking the badger out of his nest'

by James Gillray, published by William Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 22 March 1782
NPG D12982

'Anticipation, or the approaching fate of the French Commercial Treaty', by James Gillray, published by  William Holland - NPG D12356

'Anticipation, or the approaching fate of the French Commercial Treaty'

by James Gillray, published by William Holland
hand-coloured etching, published 1787?
NPG D12356

'The Westminster hunt', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12376

'The Westminster hunt'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 27 April 1788
NPG D12376

'Market day', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12377

'Market day'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 2 May 1788
NPG D12377

'John-Bull, baited by the dogs of excise', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12408

'John-Bull, baited by the dogs of excise'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 9 April 1790
NPG D12408

'The York-reverence; - or - city-loyalty, amply rewarded', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12437

'The York-reverence; - or - city-loyalty, amply rewarded'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 27 December 1791
NPG D12437

Lady Cecilia Johnston, by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12439

Lady Cecilia Johnston

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published February 1792
NPG D12439

William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville, by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12440

William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 1 February 1792
NPG D12440

'The Republican rattle-snake fascinating the Bedford-squirrel', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12547

'The Republican rattle-snake fascinating the Bedford-squirrel'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 16 November 1795
NPG D12547