Sin, Death, and the Devil, vide Milton

1792

James Gillray

Associated Names
James Gillray

Artist, British, 1757 - 1815

Hannah Humphrey

Publisher, British, c.1745 - 1818

This is a drawing of an allegorical scene with three figures engaged in a conflict. The central character is emaciated, wearing a crown and holding a golden staff with a sphere emitting light. To the left is a snake-like figure with a large head, and to the right is a figure with wings and a staff. The background is filled with light and smoke. Text is visible at the top and bottom of the image.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching hand-colored with watercolor on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Anonymous Gift

  • Dimensions

    plate: 31.9 × 40 cm (12 9/16 × 15 3/4 in.)
    sheet: 34.8 × 43.6 cm (13 11/16 × 17 3/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2017.173.1

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Wright and Evans 1851, no. 86

Artwork history & notes

Bibliography

1851

  • Wright, Thomas and Robert H. Evans. Historical and Descriptive Account of the Caricatures of James Gillray; Comprising a Political and Humorous History of the Latter Part of the Reign of George the Third. London, 1851. Reprint. NY: B. Blom, 1968: no. 86.

1870

  • Stephens, Frederic George, and Mary Dorothy George, Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum. London, 1870: no. 8105.

Inscriptions

across top above image: ---black it stood as night, / Fierce as ten Furies, terrible as hell... / ... Of dauntless courage & considrate pride / Waiting revenge; lower center image, on tag attached to key: The Instrument / of all our Woe; lower left in image: NB: The above performance containing Portraits of the Devil & his relatives, drawn from the Life, is recommended to Mess. Boydell, Fuzelli, & the rest of the Proprietors of the Three Hundred & Sixty Five Editions of Milton, now publishing as necessary to be adopted in their classick Embellishments; lower center in plate: SIN, DEATH, and the DEVIL. Vide Milton. "So Frown'd the mighty combatants, that hell... / ... Risn' and with hdeous outcry rushd between.; lower right in plate: Pubd June 9th 1792. / by H. Humphrey / No. 18 Old Bond Street

Wikidata ID

Q77259545

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