King George III ('The French invasion; - or - John Bull, bombarding the bum-boats')

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King George III ('The French invasion; - or - John Bull, bombarding the bum-boats')

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 5 November 1793
14 3/8 in. x 10 1/4 in. (365 mm x 261 mm) paper size
Purchased, 1947
Reference Collection
NPG D13016

Sitterback to top

  • King George III (1738-1820), Reigned 1760-1820. Sitter associated with 194 portraits.

Artistsback to top

  • James Gillray (1756-1815), Caricaturist. Artist or producer associated with 887 portraits, Sitter in 7 portraits.
  • Hannah Humphrey (circa 1745-1818), Publisher and printseller. Artist or producer associated with 719 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

This crude caricature was published when the possibility of French invasion was feared. George III, identified in the title as John Bull, is caricatured as a map of England. He repels the invading French fleet with a vigorous discharge of excrement. Given the print's theme it may be significant that Pontefract is the only identified inland English town. Pontefract was famous for the manufacture of liquorice, used as a laxative.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Schama, Simon, The Face of Britain: The Nation Through its Portraits, 2015-09-15, p. 95

Placesback to top

Portrait setback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1793back to top

Current affairs

Whig MP Charles Grey enters a motion for parliamentary reform but is defeated in the House of Commons.

Art and science

Radical philosopher William Godwin publishes Political Justice, an inflamatory document that promoted rational anarchism. This crystallised a wider feeling that a new era of world peace and progress was beginning.
Sir William Beechey is appointed Portrait Painter to her Majesty, Queen Charlotte.

International

Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette are executed and the Reign of Terror begins.
France declares war on Britain, Holland and then Spain. William Pitt addresses the House of Commons and Britain hesitantly joins the first coalition of anti-revolutionary European states to oppose the French threat.
Attack on Corsica in which Captain Horatio Nelson loses an eye.

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