The tree of liberty must be planted immediately!-

The tree of liberty must be planted immediately!-

The Tree of Liberty, often (in fact) a pole surmounted by a bonnet-rouge, is here a pike on which is the bleeding head of Charles James Fox. His eyes are covered by red cap (very similar to the bonnet-rouge) inscribed ‘Libertas.’ At the base of the pike are the head of six Foxites: Thelwall, Derby, Lauderdale, Stanhope, M.A. Taylor and Hanger. The title of the print continues as: ‘this is the “Something which must be done\”and that quickly too! to save the Country from destruction – Vide Sentiments [toasts] of Whig Club Feby 14th 1797.’ In this print, Gillray visually states that Fox and his French sympathizers need to be executed in order to save the British nation.

James Gillray

The British Museum

Hannah Humphrey

Published 16 February 1797 in London

The British Museum

© Trustees of the British Museum

Hand-colored etching

Image: 35.5 x 25.1 cm

Still Image