Britannia between death and the doctor's

Britannia between death and the doctor's

Collection:
Images from the History of Medicine (IHM)
Author(s):
Gillray, James, 1756-1815, artist
Publication:
[London] : Published May 20th 1804 by H. Humphrey, [1804, printed 1851?]
Language(s):
English
Format:
Still image
Subject(s):
History, 19th Century
Famous Persons
United Kingdom
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806.
Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844.
Pitt, William, 1759-1806.
Genre(s):
Caricatures
Pictorial Works
Abstract:
A satire of Pitt's return to office in 1804. Pitt is shown in the chamber of Britannia. Britannia sits listlessly on a bed, holding a sword in one hand. Next to her, leaning against the bed, is her shield and olive branches. Pitt holds aloft a bottle labelled "Constitutional Restorative" as he kicks another man, a caricature of Addington, through the door. Addington is in the process of dropping a bottle labelled "Composing Draft". With his other foot, Pitt steps on the face of a flailing and prostrate Fox, who holds a bottle labelled "Rebublican Balsam" towards Britannia. From Fox's pocket dice and a dice container labelled "Whig Pills" have fallen. Emerging from behind the bed curtains, the figure of Death, a skeleton with the face and plumed bicorne of Napoleon, overturns a table and upsets bottles of medicine and points his sword toward the unsuspecting Britannia.
Copyright:
The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
Extent:
1 print : 32 x 46 cm.
Provenance:
Gift; William H. Helfand; 2003; 03-75.
Technique:
engraving, black and white
NLM Unique ID:
101457375 (See catalog record)
NLM Image ID:
C05483
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101457375