Britannia between death and the doctor's

Britannia between death and the doctor's

This print shows Britannia, propped up by pillows, lazily holding her spear. William Pitt, the new doctor, kicks Henry Addington through the door. His left foot stands on the face of Charles James Fox who lies on the ground with the bonnet-rouge in his left hand. From behind the bed curtains, Death, a skeleton-Napoleon figure raises a spear to strike Britannia. Gillray is yet again emphasizing Britannia as a defenseless figure. In this print her vulnerability is accentuated by the easy access Death has to her.

James Gillray

The British Museum

Hannah Humphrey

Published 20 May 1804 in London

The British Museum

© Trustees of the British Museum

Hand-colored etching

Image: 25.3 x 37.6 cm

Still Image