G.Cruickshank

George Cruikshank
One of three great names in the caricature area (with Gillray and Rowlandson). He was taught by his father, Isaac, and by 1805 was assisting his father with some of the simpler bits of the copper plates that were being etched. Within a few years, he was producing his own splendid work. The ten years from 1810 on, see him at his best. After 1820 he increasingly turned to illustration (for Dickens, and others), and at roughly the same time his bucolic life style changed and he became committed to the cause of teetotalism.

Please click on the image to a view in a larger format

	George Cruikshank. The Rehearsal Or The Baron And The Elephant. Published January 1st. 1812 by M. Jones 5 Newgate Street. 20¼ x 8. Original colour, trimmed almost to the image at the sides and with the usual folds, as this is an image from the ‘Scourge’. This is a satire on the Covent Garden pantomime over the winter of 1812-13, which was famous for the performance of an elephant. Baron Geramb is held in the trunk whilst Kemble sits on the back of the elephant, and had been criticised for ignoring the work of the great dramatists in favour of the public’s love of spectacle. The management of Drury Lane is satirized in a group on the left, and on the right, Mrs Siddons can be seen leaving clutching large moneybags. B. M. 11935. £360.
	G.Cruikshank. Game of Chess. Published by G. Humphrey 27 St James’s St. June 2. 1820. 6½ x 4½. Original colour and trimmed to the border. This is a smaller fairly similar design to the larger Cruikshank image, which is usually seen in the McLean reprint of 1835 (Cruikshankiana). This was originally engraved in 1814 (B. M. 12392). This small image has slight variations, for instance one of the seated players now has a gouty leg. The B.M. reference for this small image is August 1st 1819, though the image is the same B. M. 13433. £80.
	George Cruikshank. THE ROOT OF KING’S EVIL. Originally published in 1820 by G. Humphrey. This is the 1835 reprint, from the original plate and published by T. McLean, as part of ‘Cruikshankiana’. 10¼ x 8¼. Reasonable margins and later colour. A clerical magistrate is confronted with a radical imp wearing a cap of liberty. On top of the two pikes he holds is the head of a Bishop and on the other a broken royal crown. Since Peterloo the clerical magistrate had been an object of hatred and derision; and here he is faced by the radical with a list of revolutionary extremists on the banner which is headed “Blood! Blood! Blood!!!!” B. M. 13503. £48.
	George Cruikshank. The Phoenix of Elba resuscitated by Treason. Published May 1st by W. N. Jones Newgate St. 14 x 9¾. Original colour, trimmed onto/within the plate mark and with the usual folds as this is a satire from the ‘Scourge’. An elaborate image combining the return of Napoleon with an attack on Castlereagh for his supposed conduct at Vienna. In the centre Napoleon emerges from the cauldron. A grotesque and skinny hag, representing Fury says, "Rise Spirit that can never rest…..French generals cheer and applaud". Around this central image are smaller vignettes. On the upper left, the Regent looks apprehensively at Castlereagh, to counter this image, Wellington on the right, rides furiously towards Napoleon. He is about to pass Louis XVIII, who flees on a donkey. In the top right the monarchs of Europe are squabbling over a large ‘cake’. B. M. 12537 £270.
	George Cruikshank. Odds & Ends for February (sic) 1816. Published February 1 1816 by M. Jones Newgate St 19½ x 8½. Original colour as this is an image from the ‘Scourge’ thus it has the usual folds. The central image is of Kean, and underneath is A Kean Manoeuvre to Pay Old Debts – or – Drury is itself again. John Bull holds a goblet, which is overflowing with guineas, and many of the miniature figures below him are holding out bills for payment. On the left is William Curtis and on the right is Augustus Barry and the sermon and the other allusions derive from him being a rake in orders. The small image upper left relates to the elopement of Braham and Mrs Wright, and the one in the top right corner shown a gouty Regent, who was at this time laid up with gout in Brighton, thus the Chinoiserie. There is a very small repaired paper loss in the upper section of this image. B. M. 12714. £245.
	George Cruikshank. Nic Alias Nap’s march to Elba or the Downfall of the Napoleon Dynasty. Published May 1st 1814 by W. N. Jones No 5 Newgate Street. 16 x 8. Original colour and with the usual folds as this is an image from the ‘Scourge’. The top left corner has a stain. Napoleon sits on a donkey with a noose around his neck and a devil is adjusting the rope. Other members of his family are shown, some angry, some disheartened. In the front, a servant wheels a barrow full of plunder and three Jews surround him demanding payment for goods provided during Napoleon’s campaigns. The temple on the left is on the island of Elba. B. M. 12256. £275.
	G. Cruikshank. OLD BUMBLEHEAD THE 18TH TRYING ON THE NAPOLEON BOOTS – or, Preparing for the Spanish Campaign. Published February 17th 1823 by J. Fairburn, Broadway Ludgate Hill. London. 13¾ x 9¾. Original colour on paper with a watermark of 1821. Marks in the corners resulting from having been in an album. From the collection of Minto Wilson, with his stamp on the back. Louis XVIII trying to get his boots onto his gouty legs and as he tries his crown falls off into the arms of Napoleon’s son who says “The boots wont fit you Old Bourbon – I’ll try them on by-by.” B. M. 14502. £300.
	George Cruikshank. QUARTIERE CON MOBILE –or- Hints on taking Lodgings. Published by G. Humphrey 27 St. James’s St. June 30th 1821. 9 x 11½. Original colour and trimmed onto/within the plate mark. This social satire supports the dislike many people have of living in flats. Not in the B. M. £140.
	George Cruikshank. PRINCELY PIETY, OR THE WORSHIPPERS AT WANSTEAD. Published December 1st 1811 by M Jones 5 Newgate St. 15½ x 8. Original colour with the usual folds. As usual trimmed within the plate mark and on the left fractionally inside the image. Miss Tylney Long, the very wealthy heiress is on the fantastic throne. Suitors come before her including the Duke of Clarence, who is having a chamber pot emptied over his head by Mrs Jordan with whom he had lived for twenty years. B. M. 11744. £145.
	G. Cruikshank. …. THIS PRINT OF HUNTING A MAYOR (altered to MARE) IS HUMBLY PRESENTED TO HIS L-D-P ON HIS RETIRING FROM OFFICE ‘GOOD RIDDANCE’ Published October 15th 1819 by T. Tegg 111 Cheapside. 13¾ x9½. Original colour, trimmed onto/within the plate mark. An old fold at the bottom of the image. An ass with the head of the Mayor, John Atkins, gallops away from Henry Hunt and his followers. He had over reacted to Radical protests, which he described as, “an incitement to fire the Metropolis and murder the inhabitants.” Thus the words, “I smell a plot,” issuing from the ass’s mouth. One trial instigated by Atkins saw Samuel Waddington found innocent. He then published a report of his trial ‘A whip for the hors, a bridle for the ass and a rod for the fool’s back.’ B. M. 13273. £170.
	George Cruikshank. PRINCELY AGILITY OR THE SPRAINED ANCLE. Published January 1812 by J. Johston (sic) 98 Cheapside. 14¾ x 10. Original colour reasonable margins and a water mark of 1811. The Prince had sprained his ankle at a dance in honour of his daughter. Here he lies in bed, attended by Mrs. Fitzherbert and doctors. B. M. 11841. £200.
	G. Cruikshank. Dignity! Published by G. Humphrey. 27 St. James’s St. 1820. 7½ x 5½. Uncoloured with good margins. In June 1820 Humphrey published ‘La Gloire Des Honnettes Gens’ which had four sections, Modesty, Dignity, Chastity and National Love. These were then divided and printed off as separate images. Caroline and Bergami frown angrily at a naval officer, who says, “…. I shall not degrade myself & the Service by sitting at the table with such a fellow as that.” See B. M. 13731. £40.
	G. Cruikshank. Chastity! Published by G. Humphrey. 27 St. James’s St. 1820. 7½ x 5½. Uncoloured with good margins. Slight creasing. In June 1820 Humphrey published ‘La Gloire Des Honnetters Gens’ by Cruikshank, which had four separate images on one plate. These four sections, ‘Modesty, Dignity, Chastity and National Love’ were divided and printed separately. Bergami and Caroline are embracing each other. Under the image the text starts, “Chaste as the Icecle….” See B. M. 13731. £40.
	G. Cruikshank. THE RETURN TO OFFICE. Published July 1st 1811 by M Jones. 5 Newgate Street. 15½ x 8. Original colour with the usual folds as this is an item from the ‘Scourge’. Slight splitting on a couple of the folds. A pompous Regent ushers The Duke of York into the entrance of the Horse Guards. The Duke had to resign as Commander in Chief after the revelations that Mrs. Clarke, his mistress, had been selling honors. B. M. 11728. £180.
	G. Cruikshank. THE DISPERSION OF THE WORKS OF ALL NATIONS FROM THE GREAT EXHIBITION OF 1851. Published by D. Bogue 86 Fleet St. 11½ x 8½. Uncoloured on India paper. One of the images published by Bogue in ‘The World’s Show, 1851’. £30.
	G. Cruikshank. THE OPERA BOXES, DURING THE TIME OF THE GREAT EXHIBITION ! Published by D. Bogue 86 Fleet St. 11 x 8½. Uncoloured on India paper. One of the images published by Bogue in 1851. £30.