'The pigs possessed: - or - the Broad Bottom'd litter running headlong into ye sea of perdition'

Artistsback to top

• James Gillray (1756-1815), Caricaturist. Artist associated with 881 portraits, Sitter in 7 portraits.
• Hannah Humphrey (active 1778-1822), Publisher and printseller. Artist associated with 717 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

Sittersback to top

• John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford (1766-1839), Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. Sitter associated with 18 portraits.
• George Nugent Temple Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham (1753-1813), Statesman. Sitter in 33 portraits.
• Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Chandos (1776-1839), Statesman and print collector. Sitter associated with 39 portraits.
• Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle (1748-1825), Statesman. Sitter associated with 26 portraits.
• John Courtenay (1738-1816), Politician. Sitter associated with 14 portraits.
• Edward Smith Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby (1752-1834), Sportsman and patron of horse-racing. Sitter associated with 64 portraits.
• Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough (1750-1818), Lord Chief Justice. Sitter in 17 portraits.
• Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine (1750-1823), Lord Chancellor. Sitter associated with 67 portraits.
• Richard Fitzpatrick (1748-1813), General and politician. Sitter associated with 7 portraits.
• King George III (1738-1820), Reigned 1760-1820. Sitter associated with 182 portraits.
• William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville (1759-1834), Prime Minister. Sitter associated with 67 portraits.
• Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (1764-1845), Prime Minister. Sitter associated with 166 portraits.
• Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings (1754-1826), Army officer; Politician. Sitter in 44 portraits.
• Henry Richard Fox (later Vassall), 3rd Baron Holland (1773-1840), Whig statesman and patron of art and letters. Sitter associated with 51 portraits.
• Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780-1863), Politician. Sitter associated with 73 portraits.
• James Maitland, 8th Earl of Lauderdale (1759-1839), Statesman; author of 'Inquiry into the Nature and Origin of Public Wealth'. Sitter associated with 35 portraits.
• Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk (1746-1815), Connoisseur and collector. Sitter associated with 55 portraits.
• John Jervis, Earl of St Vincent (1735-1823), Admiral. Sitter associated with 30 portraits.
• Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816), Dramatist and parliamentary orator. Sitter associated with 162 portraits.
• Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth (1757-1844), Prime Minister. Sitter associated with 66 portraits.
• George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer (1758-1834), First Lord of the Admiralty. Sitter associated with 30 portraits.
• George Tierney (1761-1830), Statesman. Sitter associated with 48 portraits.
• Samuel Whitbread (1756-1815), Politician and brewer. Sitter associated with 19 portraits.
• Hon. William Windham (1750-1810), Statesman. Sitter associated with 50 portraits.

This portraitback to top

The 'Ministry of All the Talents' was a coalition government formed under William Wyndham Grenville after the Tory William Pitt's death in January 1806. The members of the 'Ministry of All the Talents' were known as 'Broadbottoms' because of their wide political spectrum and their large posteriors. They are imagined here transformed into suicidal swine throwing themselves into the sea. George III is returned to his role as the long-suffering 'Farmer George', herding his unruly government off the edge of the cliff. A tardy Sheridan, reluctant to quit office, is kicked away to join the others. The fall of this coalition ministry after only 15 months in office was precipitated by the King's strong opposition to the Army Bill which proposed to extend Catholic emancipation to the armed forces.

Portrait setback to top

• James Gillray etchings, 1777-1811 (1806-11)

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Anthropomorphism
• Coalition Ministries
• Gillray in Focus