Original caricature by James Gillray, pulled from his original copper plate. Published for the Bohn Edition of 1851. With later hand colouring.
Published in 1798, this caricature criticizes the Act of Union (1800) that merged Ireland into the UK, showing Irish figures overwhelmed by British political figures (like Fox and Pitt) symbolizing the oppressive Union, with "Poor Pat" representing the exploited Irish populace. It's a classic piece of British caricature highlighting Irish Catholic suffering and political manipulation during this tumultuous period, often depicted with figures like a struggling Irish peasant ("Pat") amidst scheming politicians. "Whisper across the Channel" also suggests hidden dealings and manipulation from Britain affecting Ireland.
The cartoon satirizes the coercion and negative impact of the Union on Ireland, a contentious issue following the 1798 Rebellion, portraying it as a disastrous arrangement rather than a beneficial one, especially for ordinary Irish people.
Gillray was one of five children, and the only one to survive to maturity. In 1770 he was apprenticed to Harry Ashby, a London writing in engraver, and five years later W. Humphrey published a few of Gillray's illustrations including satirical works. By the time Gillray commenced his career satire was old, but personal caricature was in its infancy. Other exponents in this form of art were soon overshadowed by Gillray's superior craftsmanship. His figures were full of vitality, titillating and reflective of some political crisis or private scandal. As his popularity increased so did demand by the public to see more of his work. In the rapidly changing politics of the late18th century he would produce a plate in twenty-four hours. Although sometimes overlooked his speech bubbles were elaborate and Gillray would spend considerable time composing and redrafting the text.
Between 1791 to 1807 his career continued successfully in association with William and Hannah Humphrey. There after Gillray's health began to suffer. He eventually slipped into madness and died shortly before the Battle of Waterloo on June 1st 1815. Hannah, who had a close relationship with him nursed Gillray through out his final years and following his death the copper plates then formed part of Hannah's estate when she died in 1818. The executor's of Hannah's estate sold Gillray's painstakingly worked plates for there second hand copper weight. Hearing of this, the then publisher, Bohn who had previously expressed an interest in buying the plates set about purchasing them from a variety of different sources. Eventually acquiring over 500. In 1851 Bohn republished the engravings in a large folio volume, "The Works of James Gillray".
