Military Caricatures

Posted on 05. Apr, 2009 in Featured, Misc

This is an ambitious collection of individual prints, drawings, and watercolors from The Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection. The artwork vividly documents all aspects of military and naval history, with emphasis on the history and illustration of world military and naval uniforms from the 17th century to the present.

1. ‘Journal de l’Empire ou des Débats - Suivant les Evènements’
Hand-colored engraved caricature; figure of man with ass’s ears dressed half in uniform and livery of the Empire and half in Restoration uniform and Scottish kilt.
Artist and publisher unknown; published in Paris in ~1815.

2. ‘Noddle Island, or How we are deceived’ (sic)
Hand colored engraving caricature; woman with enormous headdress containing forts, soldiers, ships, flags, etc.
S.T (artist), Mary Darley (London publisher); 1776.
(Noddle Island - East Boston - was the site of the 2nd battle of the American Revolution and the first in which American artillery was used.

3. ‘Contrasts Pl. 1st - Ancient and Modern Lancers’
Hand colored etched caricature (by and after Heath);
William Heath (artist), Thomas McLean (publisher); ~1830 to 1834.

4. ‘A Russe’
Hand colored etched caricature; giant head of Turk at left, biting off coat-tails of Russian officer fleeing at right.
William Heath (artist), Thomas McLean (publisher); 1828.
[Russo-Turkish War, 1828-1829*]

5. ‘An Allegory’
Hand colored etched caricature; uniformed figure of Russian tsar astride eagle which is depositing cage over turkey at left.
William Heath (artist), Thomas McLean (publisher); 1828.
[Russo-Turkish War, 1828-1829*]

6. ‘Chacun son Tour, ou la Fin du Roman’
Hand-colored engraved caricature; allegorical figure and soldiers, outdoors, with large candle-snuffers, eagle flying above; evidently pro-Bonapartist.
Artist unknown; dated ~1815.

‘Coalition de 1806 - La Grande Armée* Agrandit Bien des Nez’
Hand-colored engraved caricature; French soldier at right pulling elongated nosed of figures of England, Sweden, Russia and Prussia at left.
Artist unknown, JJ Rousseau (publisher); undated but ~1806 to 1810

‘Congress of Vienna’*
Hand-colored unsigned engraving caricature; rulers toasting each other before map of Europe, figures of numerous kings, officers, Jewish money-lenders etc. at right, victorious and overpowered heraldic eagles and beasts, arms etc. above and below.
H Delius (artist), Hermes Wilhelm (publisher), ~1815

Partially colored lithographic humorous map of middle and southern Europe, with many small caricature military figures.
Artist unknown, Fr. Síra (publisher), ~1850

‘Dal Braccio Vostro Almi Sovrani Attende Italia Assassinata’
Hand colored engraving caricature; Bonaparte and cohorts laden with loot etc. walking into jaws of hell at right, Italy pleading before throne of Britain and allies at left.
Artist and publisher unknown, published in Milan in 1799.

‘Effusions of a Pot of Porter, or Ministerial Conjurations for Supporting the War’
Hand colored aquatint caricature; tankard of ale foaming over on top of barrel, mounted figure above, seen from rear, summoning evil winds and storms.
James Gillray (artist), H Humphrey (publisher), 1799.

‘General Jackson Slaying the Many Headed Monster’
Lithographic cartoon; Andrew Jackson, van Buren and assisting personage in uniform battling with serpent with numerous caricature heads.
Artist unknown, Henry R Robinson (publisher), 1833.

‘Quadrille - Evening Fashions - Dedicated to the Heads of the Nation - La Poule’
Hand-colored engraved caricature; ladies and gentlemen (1 in hussar uniform) dancing, all with exaggerated hair styles.
William Heath (artist), Thomas McLean (publisher); 1827

‘Military Dandyism, or A Specimen of Hungarian Taste…’
Hand colored engraved caricature; full-length figure in much exaggerated lancer uniform and headgear with profuse embroidery, enormous epaulettes and plume, etc.
Artist and publisher unknown; published in ~1815 to 1820.

‘Promenade au Palais Royal’
Colored line and stipple-engraved caricature; 3 very corpulent personages, one in uniform, walking together.
‘G’ (artist), publisher unknown; ~1814.

‘The Republican Soldier’
Hand-colored etched caricature; stout soldier in [French] Revolutionary military uniform, laden with numerous weapons.
Notes: “Inflammatory [sic] harangues to stir up the people to acts of sedition. Mutiny. Treason. Rebellion” ; “Hedd [sic] quarters. Craven anchor [crossed out]. Crown & anchor. Parole reform. Countersign–anarchy” ; “”Remonstrance from my constituents for non-attendance” ; “Fire is the best weapon you can use” ; “Sinew of rebellion”
Artist and publisher unknown; published in 1798.

‘What are you staring at, eh? Did you never see a Grenadier before?’
Etched caricature; figure of Grenadier Guards drummer with enormous busby.
Artist and publisher unknown; published in 1830.

‘ “Who said rats?” 12th Lancer’
Original watercolor caricature on olive paper signed by T. George; uniform figure in profile striding toward right.
T George (artist); produced in 1894.