"Playing in Parts": A 19th Century James Gillray Hand-colored Musical Caricature

$1,575.00

This hand-colored etching and aquatint caricature entitled "Playing in Parts" by James Gillray was published in London by Hanna Humphrey, 27 St. James Street on May 15th 1801. The print is signed in the plate in the lower right. This is a rare musical caricature. It depicts five amateur musicians, a woman and four men, performing their music in a drawing room. A young overweight woman dressed in white is seated in the center, playing a piano or a harpsichord, with an expression of grim determination on her face. On the left an enormously obese cellist sits leaning forward in his chair, peering at the score. Two flutists, playing one-keyed flutes, stand behind the woman and on the right an elderly, skinny, bald man plays the violin. Guests in attendance are in the background, including a pretty young woman who is flirting with a handsome officer. The sword of a bowing officer has indecorously lifted the dress of a stout dowager. Other couples stand about chatting, ignoring the music. A howling dog sits on top of some musical scores scattered on the floor.

Creator: James Gillray (1757 - 1815, British)

Creation Year: 1801

Dimensions: Height: 17.63 in (44.79 cm)
Width: 21.63 in (54.95 cm)
Depth: 0.75 in (1.91 cm)

Medium: Etching

Condition: See description below.

This hand-colored etching and aquatint caricature entitled "Playing in Parts" by James Gillray was published in London by Hanna Humphrey, 27 St. James Street on May 15th 1801. The print is signed in the plate in the lower right. This is a rare musical caricature. It depicts five amateur musicians, a woman and four men, performing their music in a drawing room. A young overweight woman dressed in white is seated in the center, playing a piano or a harpsichord, with an expression of grim determination on her face. On the left an enormously obese cellist sits leaning forward in his chair, peering at the score. Two flutists, playing one-keyed flutes, stand behind the woman and on the right an elderly, skinny, bald man plays the violin. Guests in attendance are in the background, including a pretty young woman who is flirting with a handsome officer. The sword of a bowing officer has indecorously lifted the dress of a stout dowager. Other couples stand about chatting, ignoring the music. A howling dog sits on top of some musical scores scattered on the floor.

Creator: James Gillray (1757 - 1815, British)

Creation Year: 1801

Dimensions: Height: 17.63 in (44.79 cm)
Width: 21.63 in (54.95 cm)
Depth: 0.75 in (1.91 cm)

Medium: Etching

Condition: See description below.

This Gillray etching is held by many museums, including: The British Museum, The Library of Congress, The Victoria and Albert Museum in London, The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, The Chicago Art Institute, The National Portrait Gallery, The Yale University Museum of Art and The Harvard Art Museum.

This hand-colored Gillray satirical etching and aquatint is presented in a medium brown-colored frame with a tan mat. Archival acid-free materials with hinge mounts were used in framing and it was glazed with UV conservation glass. The frame measures 17.63" high, 21.63" wide and 0.75" deep. There are some spots and focal areas of discoloration, but the print is otherwise in very good condition.

James Gillray (1756-1815) was a British caricaturist/satirist and printmaker who was popular in his time and he is still famous for his political and social satire. He has been called "the father of the political cartoon". His satirical targets included King George III, Napoleon, as well as prime ministers and generals. He is one of the most accomplished of a large number of important British caricaturists, including William Hogarth, Thomas Rowlandson, Isaac and George Cruikshank and the Vanity Fair artists, such as Leslie Ward (Spy). His works were published by Hanna Humphrey and often were displayed in her London gallery window when they were completed.

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