William Pitt the younger steers a small boat called 'The Constitution' with a single sail through huge waves between a high rock and a whirlpool accompanied by a buxom young Britannia who raises her hands in alarm. Etching by J. Gillray.
- Gillray, James, 1756-1815.
- Date:
- [1830]
- Reference:
- 585510i
- Pictures
About this work
Description
Represents the choppy waters that Pitt's constitution ran into. Pitt fixes his gaze on a castle on a promontory far right which sits in still waters. Britannia turns her head towards the rock on the summit of which is a large bonnet-rouge with a tricolour cockade on a post (reference to the French Revolution). Three sharks with human heads closely pursue Pitt's boat: Sheridan, Fox and Priestley who are labelled below the image: 'Sharks; dogs of scylla'
Publication/Creation
[London] : [Thomas McLean], [1830]
Physical description
1 print : etching ; image 14.6 x 18.5 cm
Contributors
Lettering
Britannia between Scylla and Charybdis. Or - the vessel of the constitution steered clear of the rock of democracy, and the whirlpool of arbitary power
References note
British Museum, Catalogue of political and personal satires, vol. vii, London 1942, no. 8320
Reference
Wellcome Collection 585510i
Type/Technique
Languages
Where to find it
Location Status Access Closed stores