Cartoon, Heros recruiting at Kelsey s
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Cartoon, Heros recruiting at Kelsey s
Cartoon, Heros recruiting at Kelsey s, or, Guard Day at St James s, by James Gillray. Two officers, one tall and thin, the other very young, sit facing each other eating sweets at a confectioner s. A third officer, fat and knock-kneed, stands guard in the doorway. The windows of the shop are full of various fruits and sweets. Kelseys was a popular fruit shop in St Jamess Street, London. Date: 1797
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Media ID 14230235
© The Sharp Illustration Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library
1790s 1797 Comment Confectioner Confectioners Confectionery Criticism Doorway Eating Fruits Gillray Guard Harsh Hero Heroes Jelly Knock Plum Plums Recruiting Satire Satirical Sugar Sweets Tall Thin Windows Kneed
EDITORS COMMENTS
Guard Day at Kelsey's: A Bite of Sweet Satire by James Gillray (1797) In this intriguing and humorous satirical print by James Gillray, titled "Cartoon, Heros recruiting at Kelsey's, or, Guard Day at St James's," we find ourselves in the midst of a unique recruiting scene. Two officers, one tall and thin, and the other young and eager, sit facing each other at a confectioner's shop, Kelsey's, in St James's Street, London. They appear to be taking a break from their recruiting duties, indulging in sweets and enjoying a moment of leisure. The tall, thin officer, with a serious expression, holds a bag of jellies, while the young officer, with a more carefree demeanor, reaches for a sugarplum. Their focus on their sweets is so intense that they seem oblivious to the third officer, a fat and knock-kneed man, standing rigidly at the doorway, guarding the entrance to the shop. The windows of the shop are filled with various fruits and sweets, adding to the enticing scene. The satirical commentary in this print is clear: the military, represented by the officers, are neglecting their duties for the pleasures of the flesh. The title "Guard Day" further emphasizes the irony of the situation. This print, created in 1797 during the 1790s, is a testament to the power of satire in commenting on the harsh realities of politics and society. Gillray's work, with its sharp criticism and biting wit, continues to fascinate and entertain us today.
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