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Visiting the sick, British Cartoon Print, James Gillray
Summary
Charles Fox sitting in an armchair, obviously ill. On one side of him is Mrs. Fitzherbert, dressed as an abbess and holding a rosary; on the other side is a bishop in robes and mitre. In front of Fox, the Prince of Wales holds his handkerchief to his face. Sheridan, standing behind the bishop, admonishes the bishop to understand that Catholic emancipation is not possible. Howick, Petty, Windham and Moira are all distressed; Grenville and Sidmouth are leaving the room hoping Fox will expire. Mrs. Fox faints in a chair and is attended by Lord Derby.
Catalog of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 8, no. 10589
Forms part of: British Cartoon Prints Collection (Library of Congress).
It wasn't really until the 1700s that caricature truly blossomed as a form of political criticism. In the late 1750s, a man named Thomas Townshend began using the techniques employed by earlier engravers and applying them towards a political model. This gave Thompson's cartoons a much greater feeling of propaganda than previous artistic critiques of the time. The intense political climate of the period, and often accusatory nature of most political cartoons forced many artists to use pseudonyms in order to avoid accusations of libel. Other artists took it a step farther, and left their cartoons completely unsigned, foregoing any credit they may have received. Political higher-ups were notoriously touchy about their reputations and were not afraid to make examples of offenders. Puck was the first successful humor magazine in the United States of colorful cartoons, caricatures and political satire of the issues of the day. It was published from 1871 until 1918.
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