Satirist Collection (#2)

Fitz-Greene Halleck, between 1855 and 1865. Creator: Unknown
Fitz-Greene Halleck, between 1855 and 1865. [Poet and satirist. Since the late twentieth century his poetry has been studied for its homosexual themes and insights into nineteenth-century society]

Petroleum Nasby, between 1860 and 1875. Creator: Unknown
Petroleum Nasby, between 1860 and 1875. [Journalist and early political commentator David Ross Locke: author of the " Nasby Letters", written in the character of " Rev

The Westminster Pitt, 1798 (pen and ink and watercolour)
651804 The Westminster Pitt, 1798 (pen and ink and watercolour) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); 22x32 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The Westminster Pitt. Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827)

Le Dejeuner de Voltaire aFerney or Le Souper des Philosophes, c. 1773-75. Creator: Unknown
Le Dejeuner de Voltaire a Ferney or Le Souper des Philosophes, c.1773-75

Voltaire Seen in Profile, n. d. Creator: Jean Huber
Voltaire Seen in Profile, n.d

Pope Leo XIII, Gioacchino Vincenzo Raffaele Luigi Pecci (1878-1903) illustration from Twelve Portraits - Second Series
ELB109862 Pope Leo XIII, Gioacchino Vincenzo Raffaele Luigi Pecci (1878-1903) illustration from Twelve Portraits - Second Series, published 1899 (hand-coloured woodblock) by Nicholson

The reign of Henry IV of France, 1589-1610 (colour litho)
5207740 The reign of Henry IV of France, 1589-1610 (colour litho) by Girard, Joseph (fl.1930-50); Private Collection; (add.info.: The reign of Henry IV of France, 1589-1610)

Mark Twain, from The Year 1910: a Record of Notable Achievements and Events, 1910 (litho)
STC306862 Mark Twain, from The Year 1910: a Record of Notable Achievements and Events, 1910 (litho) by Histed, Ernest Walter (1896-1947); Private Collection; (add.info)

Gargantua, illustration from Characters of Romance, first published 1900 (colour litho)
ELB109879 Gargantua, illustration from Characters of Romance, first published 1900 (colour litho) by Nicholson, William (1872-1949); Private Collection; © Desmond Banks; English, out of copyright

John Wilmot (1647-80) 2nd Earl of Rochester, c. 1665-70 (oil on canvas)
XZL151149 John Wilmot (1647-80) 2nd Earl of Rochester, c.1665-70 (oil on canvas) by Huysmans, Jacob (c.1633-96) (attr. to); Warwick Castle

The Butchers Stall, Leadenhall Market, (pencil, pen and ink on mount)
824097 The Butchers Stall, Leadenhall Market, (pencil, pen and ink on mount) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); 22.9x29.5 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The Butchers Stall, Leadenhall Market)

The Woolpack Inn: Arrival of The Flying Waggon, (pencil
652083 The Woolpack Inn: Arrival of The Flying Waggon, (pencil, pen and brown ink and watercolour) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); 24.4x38.1 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The Woolpack Inn)

Street Musicians, 1823 (pen and ink and watercolour)
651936 Street Musicians, 1823 (pen and ink and watercolour) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); 15.2x25.4 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Street Musicians. Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827)

Age and Youth, (pencil, pen and brown ink and watercolour)
651922 Age and Youth, (pencil, pen and brown ink and watercolour) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); 12.3x19.9 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Age and Youth. Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827)

A New Form of Prayer, (pencil, pen and watercolour)
651846 A New Form of Prayer, (pencil, pen and watercolour) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); 32.4x25.4 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: A New Form of Prayer. Thomas Rowlandson (b)

Writing the Will, 1786 (pen and grey ink and watercolour)
651829 Writing the Will, 1786 (pen and grey ink and watercolour) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); 23x32 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Writing the Will. Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827)

Self-portrait of English artist William Hogarth (engraving)
3648018 Self-portrait of English artist William Hogarth (engraving) by Hogarth, William (1697-1764) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Pietro Aretino, Italian poet and writer (engraving)
3647907 Pietro Aretino, Italian poet and writer (engraving) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Pietro Aretino (1492-1556), Italian poet and writer

Samuel Butler, English poet and satirist (engraving)
3638248 Samuel Butler, English poet and satirist (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Samuel Butler (1613-1680)

John Wolcot, English physician and satirist who wrote under the pen name Peter Pindar (engraving)
6014907 John Wolcot, English physician and satirist who wrote under the pen name Peter Pindar (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: John Wolcot (1738-1819)

Nasreddin Hodja riding his horse backwards (watercolour on paper)
5892853 Nasreddin Hodja riding his horse backwards (watercolour on paper) by Turkish School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Nasreddin was a Seljuq satirist)

Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin, Russian author and satirist (b / w photo)
821616 Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin, Russian author and satirist (b/w photo) by Russian Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin (1826-1889)

William Hogarth (engraving)
815443 William Hogarth (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: William Hogarth. 10 November 1697 - 26 October 1764)

Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, French playwright and revolutionary (1732-1799)
724811 Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, French playwright and revolutionary (1732-1799), at the city of Saint-Denis (chromolitho) by French School

The battle of the pictures, 18th (engraving)
2911220 The battle of the pictures, 18th (engraving) by Hogarth, William (1697-1764); (add.info.: The battle of the pictures)

Characters, 18th (engraving)
2911219 Characters, 18th (engraving) by Hogarth, William (1697-1764); Universal History Archive/UIG; English, out of copyright

The lottery, 18th (engraving)
2911173 The lottery, 18th (engraving) by Hogarth, William (1697-1764); Universal History Archive/UIG; English, out of copyright

To Nature and yourself appeal, 18th (engraving)
2911155 To Nature and yourself appeal, 18th (engraving) by Hogarth, William (1697-1764); Universal History Archive/UIG; English, out of copyright

Richard Sheridan
Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan (1751-1816), an Irish satirist, a playwright, poet, and long-term owner of the London Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Mr James Gillray (1756-1815) engraved by Charles Turner, published by G
NCO193417 Mr James Gillray (1756-1815) engraved by Charles Turner, published by G. Humphrey in 1819 (hand-coloured etching) by Seymour

The Breedwell Family, 1807 (pen, ink and watercolour)
1765022 The Breedwell Family, 1807 (pen, ink and watercolour) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); 9, 8x17, 7 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The Breedwell Family. Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827)

Cartoon for Parson Weems Fable, 1939 (charcoal, oen and chalk on paper)
1195535 Cartoon for Parson Weems Fable, 1939 (charcoal, oen and chalk on paper) by Wood, Grant (1891-1942); 97x127 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; American, out of copyright

A Dutch Academy, (pencil, pen and ink and watercolour)
651935 A Dutch Academy, (pencil, pen and ink and watercolour) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); 18.7x28.6 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: A Dutch Academy. Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827)

St. Marys Church and Radclivian Library, 1809-1811 (hand-coloured aquatint)
986312 St. Marys Church and Radclivian Library, 1809-1811 (hand-coloured aquatint) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); approx. 27x47.4 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: St)

William Makepeace Thackeray, English novelist and satirist (b / w photo)
5997315 William Makepeace Thackeray, English novelist and satirist (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863)

Portrait of Hilaire Belloc, at his house, Kings Land, Shipley
TPG351582 Portrait of Hilaire Belloc, at his house, Kings Land, Shipley, West Sussex (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Isaac Hawkins Browne - English writer and politician (1705 - 1760) (engraving)
811082 Isaac Hawkins Browne - English writer and politician (1705 - 1760) (engraving) by Highmore, Joseph (1692-1780) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Samuel Butler (1612-80) c. 1670-75 (oil on canvas)
XYC118520 Samuel Butler (1612-80) c.1670-75 (oil on canvas) by Soest, Gerard (c.1600-81); 76.2x64.1 cm; Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, USA; Dutch, out of copyright

Portrait of Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) (oil on canvas)
HSP198118 Portrait of Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) (oil on canvas) by Bindon, Francis (c.1690-1765); Royal Hospital Chelsea, London, UK; (add.info.: copy made by the artist; ); English, out of copyright

Facade, Napoleon courtyard, sculpture of Francois Rabelais (photo)
GDG279980 Facade, Napoleon courtyard, sculpture of Francois Rabelais (photo) by Lefuel, Hector-M.(1810-80) & Visconti, Louis (1791-1853); Louvre, Paris

Edward Linley Sambourne, British cartoonist (engraving)
3620587 Edward Linley Sambourne, British cartoonist (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Edward Linley Sambourne (1844-1910), British cartoonist

Sebastian Brant, German humanist and satirist (engraving)
3647393 Sebastian Brant, German humanist and satirist (engraving) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sebastian Brant (1457-1521), German humanist and satirist

The curate and the barber disguises themselves to take Don Quixote, 18th (engraving)
2911142 The curate and the barber disguises themselves to take Don Quixote, 18th (engraving) by Hogarth, William (1697-1764); Universal History Archive/UIG; English, out of copyright

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Satirists have long been the masters of wit and irony, using their sharp tongues to expose society's follies. From Nasreddin, the Seljuq satirist who cunningly mocked authority with his clever anecdotes, to Dorothy Parker, the American writer known for her biting humor and sardonic observations. Even in ancient times, satirists like Horace found solace in archways as they crafted their witty verses that ridiculed societal norms. Fanny Burney, a lesser-known but equally talented satirist from the 18th century, used her pen to challenge social conventions and highlight women's struggles during her time. The Library of the Royal Institution became a sanctuary for many satirists throughout history. Here they would immerse themselves in knowledge and inspiration before unleashing their sharp critiques on society. James Gillray was one such artist who captured political figures with his pencil strokes, exposing their flaws through caricature. Caran d'Ache carried on this tradition into modern times with his illustrations that playfully poked fun at contemporary issues. Malcolm Muggeridge followed suit as an English journalist and broadcaster whose scathing commentary left no stone unturned. But let us not forget Lucian, the Greek writer from centuries ago whose satire still resonates today. His timeless tales continue to remind us of our own absurdities and invite introspection. And finally, we cannot ignore William Hogarth's iconic depiction of Don Quixote releasing galley-slaves; a powerful image that symbolizes how satire can be a force for liberation against oppression. Through artistry or prose, these satirists have held up mirrors to society's face while simultaneously entertaining us with their wit. Their legacy reminds us that laughter is indeed a potent weapon against ignorance and injustice - one that continues to shape our world today.