John Bull triumphant

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James Gillray
1756-1815
John Bull triumphant
etching, hand-colored
image: 225 x 342 mm; sheet: 246 x 354 mm
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan, 1900.
Peel 2320
Published: 
[London] : Publish'd Jany. 4th. 1780. by W. Humphrey No. 227 Strand, [1780]
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Notes: 

Attributed to Gillray by Grego and BM Satires.
Eight lines of verse engraved in two columns below image: The Bull see enrag'd has the Spaniard engag'd ...
Library's copy trimmed within plate mark.

Summary: 

Print shows a bull tossing a Spaniard high in the air, as a shower of coins falls from his pockets. The bull is attempting to charge a Frenchman and an American (right), the latter being an Indian brave, holding a spear and wearing a girdle and head-dress of feathers; they shrink back in alarm, the American sheltering behind the Frenchman. But the bull is checked by a Scot in Highland dress, who holds its tail saying, "Luton, a-Ho" (Luton being one of the estates of Bute). Bute's waist is held by North, who says "Bushey Park, a Ho" (North lived at Bushey Park, Lady North being the Ranger of the Park), and North's by Lord Mansfield saying "Caen Wood a Ho" (Caen )or Ken) wood being the estate bought by Mansfield from Bute). In the foreground (left) a Dutchman sits grinning on a cask inscribed "Hollands Gin"; he is about to light his pipe with a burning paper on which is inscribed "? TM", presumably representing the memorials of Yorke,

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