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'Bank-notes, - paper-money, - French-alarmists, - o, the devil, the devil! - ah! poor John Bull!!!'

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'Bank-notes, - paper-money, - French-alarmists, - o, the devil, the devil! - ah! poor John Bull!!!'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 1 March 1797
10 1/8 in. x 14 1/8 in. (257 mm x 359 mm) plate size; 10 5/8 in. x 14 3/4 in. (269 mm x 374 mm) paper size
Purchased, 1947
Reference Collection
NPG D12601

Artistsback to top

  • James Gillray (1756-1815), Caricaturist. Artist associated with 881 portraits, Sitter in 7 portraits.
  • Hannah Humphrey (circa 1745-1818), Publisher and printseller. Artist associated with 718 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

Sittersback to top

Placesback to top

Portrait setback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1797back to top

Current affairs

The Anti-Jacobin periodical makes its debut followed by The Anti-Jacobin Review the year after. Edited by William Gifford, it acted as a Tory mouthpiece against the 'New Morality' associated with republicanism.
Bank crisis results in the temporary suspension of payments by the Bank of England leading to a nationwide currency shortage.

Art and science

Robert Southey, later Poet Laureate, publishes his collected Poems, exploring contemporary interest in mythology and non-European cultures.
Ann Radcliffe publishes her popular gothic novel The Italian. One of the most imaginative novelists of the period, she helped introduce readers to the romantic sense of the supernatural.

International

Battle of Cape St Vincent. Admiral John Jervis leads the fleet which defeat the Spanish.
Failure of a small French invasion in Pembrokeshire.
Naval mutinies at Spithead and Nore.
Attack on the Canary Islands in which Rear-Admiral Nelson loses an arm.

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