'Foul play, or Humphreys and Johnson a match for Mendoza...'
1 portrait by Samuel William Fores
'Foul play, or Humphreys and Johnson a match for Mendoza...'
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 18 January 1788
7 3/4 in. x 13 in. (197 mm x 331 mm) plate size; 8 5/8 in. x 13 7/8 in. (220 mm x 353 mm) paper size
Purchased, 1947
Reference Collection
NPG D12370
Artistsback to top
- Samuel William Fores (baptised 1761-1838), Printseller and publisher. Artist or producer associated with 119 portraits.
- James Gillray (1756-1815), Caricaturist. Artist or producer associated with 887 portraits, Sitter in 7 portraits.
Sittersback to top
- Allen (active 1788), Referee for a prize fight. Sitter in 4 portraits. Identify
- David Benjamin (active 1788), Probably a pugilist; acted as second to Daniel Mendoza in a prize fight. Sitter in 4 portraits. Identify
- Richard Humphries (Humphreys) (circa 1760-1827), Prize-fighter. Sitter in 13 portraits. Identify
- Jacobs (active 1788), Perhaps a pugilist; acted as bottle holder to Daniel Mendoza in a prize fight. Sitter in 4 portraits. Identify
- Tom Johnson (Thomas Jackling) (circa 1750-1797), Prize-fighter. Sitter in 14 portraits. Identify
- Daniel Mendoza (1764-1836), Pugilist. Sitter in 12 portraits. Identify
- Moravia (active 1788), Referee for a prize fight. Sitter in 4 portraits. Identify
- Thomas Tring (circa 1760-1815), Pugilist and artists' model. Sitter in 5 portraits. Identify
Events of 1788back to top
Current affairs
Parliament begins an investigation into the slave trade, led by reformers Thomas Clarkson and William Wilberforce.Regency Crisis; George III's madness is announced provoking a political storm.
Former Governor-General of Bengal Warren Hastings' trial begins before the House of Lords.
Henry Benedict Stuart becomes the new Stuart claimant to the British throne.
Art and science
Artist Thomas Gainsborough dies.First edition of The Times newspaper is published in London.
Scottish engineer and inventor William Symington demonstrates the first paddle steamer on Dalswinton Loch near Dumfries.
Robert Burns writes his version of the Scots poem Auld Lang Syne.
International
Ministers of the French King, Louis XVI, reluctantly announce that the Estates General will meet the following year, for the first time since 1614.United States constitution comes into force when New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify it.
First Fleet reaches Australia, anchoring in Botany Bay. Arthur Phillip, selecting a suitable site for the first Australian penal colony, names the place Sydney Cove.
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