The wine duty, or, The triumph of Bacchus & Silenus; with John Bulls [sic] remonstrance / J. Gy. d. et f.

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James Gillray
1756-1815
The wine duty, or, The triumph of Bacchus & Silenus; with John Bulls [sic] remonstrance / J. Gy. d. et f.
hand colored etching
image: 34 x 23.7 cm; plate: 34.5 x 24.7 cm; sheet: 36 x 25.5 cm
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan, 1900.
Peel 2952
Published: 
[London] : H. Humphrey, 1796.
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Summary: 

A tun of 'Wine' lies on solid trestles inscribed 'Treasury Bench'. From its huge bung-hole emerges the naked body of Pitt, as Bacchus, crowned with vine branches. Behind him stands Dundas as Silenus, fat, and partly draped in tartan; his right hand grasps Pitt's shoulder, in his left he holds up a brimming glass. Opposite the tun stands John Bull in profile to the left, looking up at Pitt, hat in hand; in his left hand is a lank purse, under his arm three empty bottles. He is a yokel, with lank hair and hydrocephalic head, wearing a smock and wrinkled gaiters. He says: "Pray Mr Bacchus have a bit of consideration for old John; - you know as how I've emptied my Purse already for you - & its waundedly hard to raise the price of a drop of Comfort, now that one's got no Money left for to pay for it!!!"

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