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Lot 254:
Description
Rare James Gillray dated 1810 "He Steers His Flight" Etching, Aquatint & Watercolor also titled ‘Tentanda via est qua me quoque possim ….this piece is also in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum, Yale University and several other prominent museum collections
James Gillray ‘He Steers His Flight or ‘Tentanda via est qua me quoque possim tollere humo: Lord Granvilles’ Installation as Chancellor of Oxford University’. After James Gillray (british, 1756–1815), publisher, Hannah Humphry. An english satirical print, the title loosely translating to ‘he steers his flight aloft, incumbent on the dusky air that felt unusual weight.’ Etching, Aquatint and watercolor on paper. Upper margin having date of August 8, 1810 publication date in plate. This piece is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum, The Art Institute of Chicago, Yale University and others.Please refer to photos for detailed images.
Provenance Collection of American Artist, Hunt Slonem from his home at the Cordts Mansion in Kingston, NY, the 1874 home of the John H. & Elizabeth Cordts family for more than 100 years. Born in germany, the family arrived in the united states in the late 1830’s, settled in kingston in the 1850’s, and was well established as a brick maker and local business leader by the time the homes construction was completed in 1874. Hunt Slonem, noted artist, purchased the property in 2001, both restoring and expanding upon the interior and collection.
James Gillray (british 1756 -1815) was a british caricaturist and printmaker famous for his etched political and social satires, mainly published between 1792 and 1810. Gillray has been called ‘the father of the political cartoon’, with his works satirizing George III, Napoleon, prime ministers and generals. Regarded as being one of the two most influential cartoonists, the other being William Hogarth. His wit and humor, knowledge of life, fertility of resource, keen sense of the ludicrous, and beauty of execution places him among the greatest of english caricaturists.
The appearance of the balloon in 1783 provided artists, engravers and publishers in england, france, germany and italy a new subject for their efforts. As the wave of balloon enthusiasm swept across the continent, the production and sale of images depicting the great flights and daring aeronauts flourished. In addition to illustrating the birth of the air age, print makers made use of balloon motifs in comic images satirizing political events or social trends.
William Wyndham Grenville, Baron Grenville, (1759 – 1834) was a british politician, son of prime minister George Grenville. His greatest achievement was the abolition of the british overseas slave trade by a bill that became law the day he left office. Grenville served as chancellor of oxford university from 1810 to 1834.
On July 3, 1810, Grenville was installed as chancellor of oxford, and Gillray took full advantage of the his size and his association with the catholic emancipation Grenville, with a cross on his posterior, ascends into the air in a balloon, tailored to his ample girth. He tosses aside a cardinal’s hat, rosary, and mitre, and he dons a papal tiara. Among the witnesses to the ceremony, who received degrees, were past supporters of Grenville’s ministry: Grenville’s brother, the Marquis of Buckingham (seen on the left in the top window of the radcliffe camera tower), the radical Tierney (without mask, holding a mortarboard on the right), and Grenville’s nephew, Temple, whose rotund body is outlined on the balloon. Etched after an amateur’s suggestion, this satire is Gillray’s last print on a political theme.
An extensive explanation of the various political figures and personal associates depicted in the print can be found on this page: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1868-0808-13696
Publisher Hannah Humphrey is inextricably associated with the artist, having produced much of his work. Gillray also lived with Miss Humphrey during the entire period of his fame. From a family of printers, she struck out on her own in 1778 or 1779, and her business was frequented by a fashionable clientele who enjoyed her large inventory of social and political caricature, including portraits of leading society figures. Notable artists she published beside Gillray included Thomas Rowlandson and James Sayers.
James Gillrays work is in the collection of many museums, including the victoria & albert museum, the national portrait gallery, in london; columbia university, the new york public library, and the frick art reference library in new york, among others.
An example of this print was offered at bonhams, london in 2018, selling for $3,308, including buyers premium.
Sheet – 23" high x 16 3/4" wide. Plate mark – 20" high x 15 1/4" wide. Image – 19" high x 14 1/2" wide. Frame- 28 1/4" h x 22.5" wide
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Condition: Hinged print, having expected toning and discoloration to verso. Taped edges to verso. No obvious repairs.
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