Bribery Collection

Idol-Worship or the Way to Preferment, 1740 (engraving)
XJF863053 Idol-Worship or the Way to Preferment, 1740 (engraving) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Prime Minister Robert Walpole)

Curius Dentatus refusing bribes from Samnites
Manius Curius Dentatus, Roman consul and plebeian hero, though living on turnips, refuses bribes from the Samnites. He is noted for ending the Samnite War

The Election II: Canvassing for Votes, 1754-55 (oil on canvas)
SJS1997 The Election II: Canvassing for Votes, 1754-55 (oil on canvas) by Hogarth, William (1697-1764); 101.5x127 cm; Courtesy of the Trustees of Sir John Soanes Museum

The Election III The Polling, 1754-55 (oil on canvas)
SJS1998 The Election III The Polling, 1754-55 (oil on canvas) by Hogarth, William (1697-1764); 101.5x127 cm; Courtesy of the Trustees of Sir John Soanes Museum

Illustration depicting an escaped convict bribing a child to feed him, 1893 (engraving)
5616293 Illustration depicting an escaped convict bribing a child to feed him, 1893 (engraving); Universal History Archive/UIG.

An escaped convict bribing a child
5308461 An escaped convict bribing a child.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting an escaped convict bribing a child to bring him food in secret. Dated 19th century)

Caricature of the English betrayal by the French in Paris, 1762. John Russell
FLO4717884 Caricature of the English betrayal by the French in Paris, 1762. John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford being paid with Crumbs of Comfort while a English man picks his pocket

English Financier Geroge Hudson, 1849
1574537 English Financier Geroge Hudson, 1849; (add.info.: George Hudson (1800-1871) The Railway King. English financier and railway promoter

Man Chooses a Young Woman, 1600. Creator: Jacob Matham
Man Chooses a Young Woman, 1600

Seule manière de faire poser un enfant avec fruit.. 1847. Creator: Honore Daumier
Seule maniere de faire poser un enfant avec fruit.. 1847. The only way to make a child pose with fruit. Series: Les Papas, no. 15; Periodical: Le Charivari, 24 August 1847

The Finsbury Election: the Hustings on Clerkenwell-Green: the Nominations, 1857. Creator: Unknown
The Finsbury Election: the Hustings on Clerkenwell-Green: the Nominations, 1857. At the close of the poll at four o'clock at least 10

Allegory of Avarice, 1507. Creator: Dürer, Albrecht (1471-1528)
Allegory of Avarice, 1507. Found in the Collection of the Art History Museum, Vienne

The Triumph of Boodle, from Boodle, n.d. Creator: Joseph Keppler
The Triumph of Boodle, from Boodle, n.d

Cinque-Tetes or the Paris Monster, cartoon satirising the XYZ Affair
CHT231015 Cinque-Tetes or the Paris Monster, cartoon satirising the XYZ Affair, 1797 (colour litho) by American School, (18th century); Archives du Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres, Paris

Avarice. A miniature with scenes of banking. Artist: Master of the Cocharelli Codex (active ca 1330)
Avarice. A miniature with scenes of banking. Found in the collection of British Library

Balfours Irrepressible Donkey, 1888. Artist: Joseph Swain
Balfours Irrepressible Donkey, 1888. Arthur James Balfour was the Chief Secretary for Ireland at the beginning of 1888 in Lord Salisburys Conservative administration.The cartoon is accompanied by a

Show of Hands for a Liberal Candidate : Electioneering and Bribery with those with a vote holding up their hands to
527845 Show of Hands for a Liberal Candidate : Electioneering and Bribery with those with a vote holding up their hands to catch the money a Parliamentary candidate is throwing out to them

Le bon moyen. Illustration for Le Pele-Mele, 1902 (colour litho)
3100610 Le bon moyen. Illustration for Le Pele-Mele, 1902 (colour litho) by Rabier, Benjamin (1869-1939); Private Collection; (add.info.: Le bon moyen)

Canvassing at Election Time (engraving)
2788204 Canvassing at Election Time (engraving) by Moreland, Arthur (1876-1951); Private Collection; (add.info.: Canvassing at Election Time)

Cartoon commenting on the dirtiness of the Thames and the investigations into bribery
5309059 Cartoon commenting on the dirtiness of the Thames and the investigations into bribery during elections at Great Yarmouth, Reigate and Lancaster by Tenniel

The Bar to Progress! An allegory, founded upon Temple Bar. Satirical cartoon, 1853. Temple Bar, the entrance to the City of London in the west, closes its gates against ordinary people and progress

Administration of mineral waters of Mont Pilat, Pelussin, Loire (colour litho)
3104188 Administration of mineral waters of Mont Pilat, Pelussin, Loire (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

William Meredith, Manchester United (pen & ink and w / c on paper)
NFM315272 William Meredith, Manchester United (pen & ink and w/c on paper) by Rip, (fl.1907-09); National Football Museum, Manchester

Ms Lat 3893 Fol. 98 Parents offering a bishop money to take their son into the abbey
BNP159942 Ms Lat 3893 Fol.98 Parents offering a bishop money to take their son into the abbey, 1314 (vellum) by French School, (14th century); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

The Flatterers
FIA5618218 The Flatterers by Brueghel, Pieter the Younger (c.1564-1638); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Flatterers - Brueghel, Pieter, the Younger (1564-1638) - ca 1592 - Oil on wood - D 18

The Election - Canvassing for Votes: satire on the parliamentary election of 1755
5997532 The Election - Canvassing for Votes: satire on the parliamentary election of 1755, one of a series of four titled Humours of an Election (engraving) by Hogarth

Cartoon, Lord Lytton and the drama critic
Cartoon, Lord Lytton (Robert Bulwer-Lytton) insinuates that if you want the good word of a dramatic critic, you should first give him a good supper! 1884

The Wilson Affair, front cover of Le Grelot, 27th November 1887 (litho)
CHT163186 The Wilson Affair, front cover of Le Grelot, 27th November 1887 (litho) by French School, (19th century); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

The Election II: Canvassing for Votes, illustration from Hogarth Restored
STC451172 The Election II: Canvassing for Votes, illustration from Hogarth Restored: The Whole Works of the celebrated William Hogarth, re-engraved by Thomas Cook, pub

The Peace Offering
BUR17341 The Peace Offering by Wood, Charles Haigh (1856-1927); Bury Art Museum & Sculpture Centre, UK; eBury Art Museum & Sculpture Centre; English, out of copyright

The judgement of Paris (chromolitho)
3100652 The judgement of Paris (chromolitho) by Spanish School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The judgement of Paris)

Leslie Thornton in the dock at a trial in Moscow, USSR
Leslie Thornton in the dock, at a trial in Moscow of employees of the Metropolitan Vickers Company, April 1933. They were charged with sabotage, espionage

The gallant Deputy and the ambitious Farm girl. Illustration for Le Rire (colour litho)
2786507 The gallant Deputy and the ambitious Farm girl. Illustration for Le Rire (colour litho) by Morin, Louis (1855-1938); Private Collection; (add.info)

Political Quixotism shewing the Consequences of Sleeping in Patent Magic Spectacles
2652866 Political Quixotism shewing the Consequences of Sleeping in Patent Magic Spectacles, the Diplomatic Hercules, attacking the Political Hydra, pub

Elector and candidate
LLM338799 Elector and candidate by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Elector and candidate. Paynes Universum (1847).); © Look and Learn

Scipios appeal to the people (litho)
STC416048 Scipios appeal to the people (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Scipio Africanus (235-183 BC)

Costume of the Candidate for Office in Rome, a folio from L Antique Rome
661096 Costume of the Candidate for Office in Rome, a folio from L Antique Rome, engraved by Labrousse, pub. 1796 (colour litho) by Grasset de Saint-Sauveur

Punch cartoon: Sir Henry James, 1st Baron James of Hereford, Anglo-Welsh lawyer and politician (engraving)
6034928 Punch cartoon: Sir Henry James, 1st Baron James of Hereford, Anglo-Welsh lawyer and politician (engraving) by Sambourne

The Bribe (engraving)
1609534 The Bribe (engraving) by Pickersgill, Frederick Richard (1820-1900); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Bribe. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 8 May 1858)

In the Political Arena - the Biggest Bag Wins (chromolitho)
3620686 In the Political Arena - the Biggest Bag Wins (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: In the Political Arena - the Biggest Bag Wins)

Cheyt Sing in his Eastern Dress, pub. 1786 (hand coloured engraving)
2966793 Cheyt Sing in his Eastern Dress, pub. 1786 (hand coloured engraving) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Private Collection; (add.info.: George III (1738 - 1820) in oriental dress

Introduction, pub. 1793 (hand coloured engraving)
2962507 Introduction, pub. 1793 (hand coloured engraving) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); Private Collection; (add.info)

Mr Alexanders Levee in Kings Bench Prison, illustration from Cassell
STC393292 Mr Alexanders Levee in Kings Bench Prison, illustration from Cassells Illustrated History of England (engraving) (sepia photo) by English School

Temptation (engraving)
1589777 Temptation (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Temptation. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 15 December 1877)

Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering in the Old Days (engraving)
1041252 Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering in the Old Days (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Judge. Creator: Hans Holbein the Younger
The Judge

Peaceable Kingdom, c. 1834. Creator: Edward Hicks
Peaceable Kingdom, c. 1834

Penns Treaty with the Indians, c. 1840 / 1844. Creator: Edward Hicks
Penns Treaty with the Indians, c. 1840/1844

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"Bribery: A Historical Perspective on Corruption and Temptation" In the realm of human vices, it has persistently woven its web throughout history, leaving behind tales of deceit and moral compromise. From the notorious Mary Frith, a cunning pickpocket in 17th-century London, to the satirical engravings like "Idol-Worship or the Way to Preferment" (1740), society has long grappled with this insidious practice. The canvassing for votes during elections became a breeding ground for bribery's malevolence. Paintings such as "The Election II: Canvassing for Votes" (1754-55) and "The Election III: The Polling" (1754-55) depict an era when politicians shamelessly sought favor through illicit means. Even Curius Dentatus stood resolute against Samnites' bribes in ancient Rome, highlighting the timeless battle between integrity and corruption. As time progressed, artists like Joseph Swain captured the essence of bribery's absurdity in works such as "Balfours Irrepressible Donkey" (1888). Satirical cartoons like George Cruikshank's "Show of Hands for a Liberal Candidate" (1843) exposed how money could sway even those entrusted with voting power. Not limited to politics alone, bribery seeped into various facets of society. Journalism itself fell prey to its allure; depicted vividly in colorful lithographs like "Journalism. " Meanwhile, British warfare faced scrutiny in H. R. Robinson's publication "British Warfare in 1812" (1837-38), revealing that even military endeavors were not immune from this corrosive practice. Yet amidst these dark shadows cast by greed and dishonesty emerged glimmers of hope. In Le bon moyen, " an illustration from Le Pele-Mele (1902), we witness resistance against temptation—a reminder that not all succumb to the allure of bribery.