Fashion before ease;-or,-a good constitution sacrificed, for a fantastick form

Fashion before ease;-or,-a good constitution sacrificed, for a fantastick form

Britannia is shown on the left grasping the trunk of a large oak tree while Thomas Paine tugs with both hands at her stay-lace. He wears bonnet-rouge with a tricolored cockade and from his pockets protrudes a pair of scissors and a tape inscribed: ‘Rights of Man.’ Britannia looks over her shoulder with an expression of pained reproach as her shield lies against the tree and her spear lay on the ground. This is another instance where Gillray shows Britannia’s easy ability to be taken over by French authorities.

James Gillray

The British Museum

Hannah Humphrey

Published 2 January 1793 in London

The British Museum

© Trustees of the British Museum

Hand-colored etching

Image: 34.5 x 25 cm

Still Image