Bribery Collection (#3)

bribery scene second company comedy Hopman Ulrich
The bribery scene from the second company of the comedy Hopman Ulrich of the cheated stinginess by Johan van Paffenrode (1661)

Hopman Ulrich cheated miserliness bribery guard
Hopman Ulrich or the cheated miserliness: the bribery, A guard with a sword asks a young man (Godefroy), who secretly visits his beloved (Sybille) at night for money

Hopman Ulrich cheated stinginess bribery guard
Hopman Ulrich or the cheated stinginess: the bribery, A guard with a sword asks a young man (Godefroy), who secretly visits his beloved (Sybille) at night for money

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

The hoarders and wasters. Illustration to the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, 1857. Artist: Dore, Gustave (1832-1883)
The hoarders and wasters. Illustration to the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, 1857. From a private collection

Samson and Delilah, c1609-1610. Artist: Peter Paul Rubens
Samson and Delilah, c1609-1610. Samson, the Jewish hero, fell in love with Delilah. She was bribed by the Philistines, and discovered that his strength came from his hair which had never been cut

The exhortations, 1819-1823. Artist: Francisco Goya
The exhortations, 1819-1823. Plate 16 of Proverbs, published in 1864. The series also known as disparates (absurdities) or suenos (dreams) is seen as symbolic of the absurdity of the human condition

Riches (Divitiae), ca. 1600. Artist: Mallery, Karel van (1571-c. 1635)
Riches (Divitiae), ca. 1600. From a private collection

Suffragette Christmas Cracker
Rather Masculine Looking suffragette waving an umbrella proclaims, When a Voter I shall be Proof against all Bribery. Nor shall Vile Corruption prove of Avail. I ll Vote - for love

Caricature, Sir Squire Bancroft and Mowbray Morris
Caricature, Sir Squire Bancroft (1841-1926), English actor-manager, and Mowbray Morris, theatre critic, with other critics in the background enjoying food and drink in the Critics Buffet

Edgar Wallace entertains a few of his acquaintance 1929
Cartoon by H.M.Bateman, showing businessmen acting in a non Professional manner, probably depicting one of Edgar Wallaces (British author), crime books that he wrote at the time? Date: 1929

Cartoon, More Hands Wanted, WW1
Cartoon, More Hands Wanted. Showing Admiral von Tirpitz, Von Gwinner (Deutsche Bank), Kaiser Wilhelm, Von Bethmann-Hollweg and Field Marshal Von der Goltz struggling with the war

Albert Grant, Vanity Fair, Ape
ALBERT GRANT (1831-1899) (born Abraham Gottheimer) Irish born British company promoter. Established many companies which were to fail at the expense of the shareholders leading to claims of fraud

The Stature of a Great Man or an English Colossus, by George Bickham the Younger
XJF867974 The Stature of a Great Man or an English Colossus, by George Bickham the Younger, 1740 (engraving) by King, Haynes (1831-1904); Private Collection; (add.info.: BM 18680808.3635); English

The Noble Stand, or the Glorious CCIII Sacred to their Immortal Honour down to posterity, c
XJF867953 The Noble Stand, or the Glorious CCIII Sacred to their Immortal Honour down to posterity, c.1733 (etching) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Robert Walpole)

Robins Progress in eight scenes, from his first coming up from Oxford to London
XJF867946 Robins Progress in eight scenes, from his first coming up from Oxford to London to his present situation, 1733 (engraving) by English School

The Lyon in Love, or A Political Farmer, 1738 (engraving)
XJF867857 The Lyon in Love, or A Political Farmer, 1738 (engraving) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: BM 1871, 1209.4897); English, out of copyright

The Scheme Disappointed, A Fruitless Sacrifice, circa 1733 (etching)
XJF867848 The Scheme Disappointed, A Fruitless Sacrifice, circa 1733 (etching) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: BM 1868, 0808.3559); English, out of copyright

The Present State of A Certain Great Kingdom, 1738 (engraving)
XJF867852 The Present State of A Certain Great Kingdom, 1738 (engraving) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: BM 1868, 0808.3604); English, out of copyright

Robins Reign, or Sevens the Main, 1731 (etching)
XJF867850 Robins Reign, or Sevens the Main, 1731 (etching) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: BM 1868, 0808.3541); English, out of copyright

Satire on the Excise Bill, 1733 (engraving)
XJF867843 Satire on the Excise Bill, 1733 (engraving) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

The Champion, or Evening Advertiser by Capt. Hercules Vinegar of Pall Mall, 1744
XJF867803 The Champion, or Evening Advertiser by Capt. Hercules Vinegar of Pall Mall, 1744 (engraving) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: BM 1868, 0808.3630); English

The Pompadour General, published by George Bickham, 1759 (engraving)
XJF867782 The Pompadour General, published by George Bickham, 1759 (engraving) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: BM J, 1.104); English, out of copyright

The Night Visit or the Relapse: with the Pranks of Bob Fox the Jugler while Steward
XJF863064 The Night Visit or the Relapse: with the Pranks of Bob Fox the Jugler while Steward to Lady Britannia, display d on a screen, 1742 (engraving) by English School

The London Merchants Triumphant, 1733 (engraving)
XJF863066 The London Merchants Triumphant, 1733 (engraving) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Satire on the defeat of the Excise Bill of Robert Walpole)

The Grounds, 1741 (engraving)
XJF863045 The Grounds, 1741 (engraving) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Satire on reasons to remove Robert Walpole)

The Statue of a Great Man or the English Colossus, 1740 (engraving)
XJF863054 The Statue of a Great Man or the English Colossus, 1740 (engraving) by Bickham, George (the Younger) (c.1706a'71); Private Collection; (add.info)

How to get made an MP, 19th July 1830 (colour engraving)
XCF275010 How to get made an MP, 19th July 1830 (colour engraving) by Heath, William (1795-1840); Private Collection; (add.info.: Member of Parliament; House of Commons; cash for honours; ); English

The Election II; Canvassing for Votes, engraved by Charles Grignion (1717-1810) 1757
XIR160435 The Election II; Canvassing for Votes, engraved by Charles Grignion (1717-1810) 1757 (engraving) (b/w photo) (see also 1997) by Hogarth, William (1697-1764); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

Light Unshaded! Blackout rebels bribe official
An Upper Class Party is disturbed by an official complaining about the non-blackout of this London address during WWI. The host is furiously apologising

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

Street music: Unwelcome musician, c. 1835
A rotund servant bribes a noisy street musician with three pence to move on, as his playing is disturbing the master of the house

Silent Still: Bribery

Street betting - a bookmaker taking bets
An illustration of street betting showing a bookmaker taking bets in a London street and highlighting the problem of bribery between bookies and policemen

Election Bribery 1853
Bribery at election time

Bare-Faced Bribery 1773
Bare-faced bribery

Electoral Bribery
ELECTORAL PURITY the British voter refuses to accept 5 pounds for his vote - his starting price is 15 pounds

A Liberal Candidate
Show of Hands for a Liberal Candidate. Election satire showing a young candidate being very liberal indeed with his attempt to bribe constituents

Legal expenses of an election
A cartoon satirising The Ordinary Legal Expenses of an Election

Queen Victoria is offered a new crown
New crowns for old ones! Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli offers Queen Victoria the imperial crown of India, in a spoof cartoon on an Arabian Nights tale (Aladdins new lamps for old)

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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.