This is a fine original antique hand-coloured etching that was originally published in June 1782. It is all nicely framed with a new fresh window mount and is ready just to hang on your wall.
It is certainly a very interesting satirical print - of museum quality - and indeed an impression is in the collection of the British Museum, London.
This etching is one of a series of prints etched by Gillray and published by Elizabeth D'Achery satirising the new Rockingham administration which had taken office in late March of 1782. The print features three figures from that administration "consulting" with the ghost of the infamous Oliver Cromwell.
The print shows the ghost of Oliver Cromwell to the right - he has been coloured with a ghostly illuminated yellow colour. He is wearing armour and his right foot is shown crushing a crown; his left foot rests on a brokwn sceptre. He holds a long sword with its point resting on the ground. He has a long dark purple cloak hanging from his shoulder. He turns his head to the three figures (Charles James Fox, the Earl of Shelburne and the Duke of Richmond) at the left of the scene. He says to them. "To obtain your end your Measures are right, You Arm the People - like me, you trample on Prerogative - Republicans favourite Plan - but all in vain - The Spirit of the Constitution never dies". Fox is shown at the extreme left and fumbles with his tricorn hat. He is turning his back to Cromwell. Next to him is Shellburne who rubs his chin with his hand and looks at the ghost contemplating his words. Richmond is at the right of the group, he turns away with his fists clendhed and looks back at Cromwell over his shoulder.
The title is inscribed along the bottom margin. The top left hand corner is inscribed: Political Characters & Caricatures ... No. 5. There seems to have been an inscription on the plate but it was over-etched with a black line forming the border. This is nearly illegible but reads: Pub.d June 20.th 1782. by E D’ Achery St. James’s, London. There is no later 1850s Bohn edition number in the corner, suggesting this impression pre-dates that edition. The lettering on my etching is the same as that on the print in the collectoin of the National Portrait Gallery in London and the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia.
The Malagrida in the title is a reference to the nickname given to Shellburne by his political enemies - and refers to the Jesuit priest Gabriel Malagrida (1689-1761), who was executed for his alleged involvement in an assassination attempt on the Portuguese King José I.
Dimensions: The frame is 37 x 47 cm. The image is 23.5 x 34 cm.
This is a very interesting Georgian politicial print, and indeed a rare one. It is in fine condition - with etched lines and contemporary 19th-century watercolour hand colouring. The colours are bright and the paper without issue. There is one tiny bit of spotting on the top of hand corner sky area - it is very slight .. please look at my photographs.
It will have to be posted only to the UK. The postage will be with Parcelforce24 and applied to your order at the checkout.