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John Bull offering Little Boney fair play, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1803 (etching)
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John Bull offering Little Boney fair play, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1803 (etching)
NCO191268 John Bull offering Little Boney fair play, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1803 (etching) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); 21.5x26.9 cm; Courtesy of the Warden and Scholars of New College, Oxford; (add.info.: British confidence that Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) did not have sufficient naval strength to invade England; Great Britain as master of the seas; Bonapartes head peeping over ramparts of fortress; ); English, out of copyright
Media ID 22340040
© Bridgeman Images
Afraid Bare Chested Brutish Challenge Challenging Cockade Cowardly Daring Defence English Channel Frightened Giant Muscular Outsized Overwhelmed Political Satire Scared Scrawny Speech Bubble Strong Stronghold Strongman Tiny Wading Weak Dare Gargantuan
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EDITORS COMMENTS
The etching titled "John Bull offering Little Boney fair play" is a powerful political satire published by Hannah Humphrey in 1803. Created by James Gillray, this artwork captures the British confidence in their naval supremacy and mocks Napoleon Bonaparte's perceived inability to invade England. In the image, John Bull, symbolizing Great Britain, stands tall and muscular on the coastline. He challenges Bonaparte, represented as a tiny figure with his head peeping over fortress ramparts. Despite being outnumbered and overwhelmed by beached boats representing the French fleet, Bonaparte appears frightened and cowardly while wearing only underwear. This caricature highlights the stark contrast between the strength of British defenses and Napoleon's supposed weakness. John Bull's bare-chested bravado contrasts sharply with Bonaparte's scrawny physique, emphasizing Britain's belief that they are impervious to invasion. Gillray employs clever visual cues such as speech bubbles to convey a sense of challenge from John Bull towards his puny adversary. The coastal setting further reinforces Britain's maritime dominance and their ability to protect their shores. Overall, this satirical print serves as both a celebration of British naval power and an expression of mockery towards Napoleon Bonaparte. It reflects the prevailing sentiment at that time - that England was an impenetrable stronghold against any threat posed by France under Napoleon's leadership.
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