Shakespeare – Sacrificed; or, The Offering to Avarice
Original title: Shakespeare – Sacrificed; or, The Offering to Avarice
kurzbeschreibung
A book, evidently a volume of Shakespeare, is consigned to the flames in James Gillray's 1789 etching, which stages the act as an allegorical sacrifice. The print is executed in etching and aquatint, and the image area measures 47.3 by 37.9 cm.
Description
In the foreground a figure hurls a book into a blazing fire while two children sit nearby and watch. The rest of the space fills with figures in shifting postures — some hovering in clouds, others sprawled on the ground, a few wearing masks or headgear. Smoke and flame dominate the proceedings and point to destruction. Along the lower edge of the sheet appear the title and the year 1789.
Context
This satirical print came out in June 1789, a few weeks before the outbreak of the French Revolution, during a period of political and social tension in Britain. Gillray regularly took up current events and social grievances in his work. The title targets the commercial exploitation of Shakespeare's works, possibly with an eye on the Boydell Shakespeare Gallery, which opened its doors in 1789.
Impact
Greys and blacks set the gloomy tone, and the dramatic fire creates a sense of menace. Realistic detail meets allegorical props, asking the viewer to interpret and sharpening the satirical point.
Technique
Etching and aquatint are used together; the latter permits both fine lines and soft gradations of tone. This yields grey and black areas that carry the dramatic contrast of light and shadow. The sheet survives in an undescribed state, suggesting an early printing.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)