PAIR James Gillray Original Antique Etchings with Contemporary Hand Colouring

Publisher Hannah Humphrey 1804

Gentle Emetic & Breathing a Vein

Both inscribed lower left : Published January 28th, 1804 by H Humphrey, St James’s Street , London

Both prints laid on old millboard type card, both trimmed at top to within ruled border.

Bottom left corners of Emetic part missing and partially recoloured. The title Gentle Emetic seems to have been cut out and replaced with a couple of small areas of paper loss above title.

Breathing a Vein more complete but with staining on top left. Both browned and time stained. In spite of their somewhat poor condition they are good original examples of Gillray’s medical caricatures and like all cartoons of this period are becoming increasingly scarce.

James Gillray was one of the greatest caricaturists of the eighteenth century. In 1804, James Gilray produced this series of satirical etchings that brilliantly charts the progress of disease in one unlucky patient...

Taking Physick (February 6, 1800)

Gentle Emetic (January 28, 1804)

Brisk-Cathartic (January 28, 1804)

Breathing a Vein (January 28, 1804)

Charming Well Again (January 28, 1804)

Gentle Emetic is the 2nd of 5 related prints based on sketches by Gillray’s friend and amateur caricaturist, the Reverend John Sneyd. He collected Gillray’s work, suggested subjects and provided sketches for him.

Much of 18th century medicine was based on ancient humor theory that posited four basic bodily humors—blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile—which needed to be kept in balance in order to maintain wellness. Commonly used emetics included senna and tartar emetic. They would probably have been mixed with the tea in the pot on the table.

Breathing a Vein

One of the most common (and to 21st century sensibilities) barbaric treatments in 18th century medicine was the practice of therapeutic bloodletting or venesection. As shown in Gillray's print, the blood was usually drawn from a major vein in the neck or forearm and caught in a cup.

Presented in fresh, bespoke textured off white conservation board mounts. Outside size of mount measures W 11 x H 13.375 inches

Aperture size measures W 7.5 x H 9.75 inches

Secure postage and packing £5.49

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