Artwork
Monstrous Craws, at a New Coalition Feast
Monstrous Craws, at a New Coalition Feast is a watercolor print by the Romanticist artist James Gillray. It dates from 1787 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
James Gillray’s 1787 print *Monstrous Craws, at a New Coalition Feast* is a satirical work executed in etching, engraving, and aquatint, finished with hand‑applied watercolor on laid paper. The composition depicts three oversized, grotesquely proportioned figures—one crowned, one in a wig—gorging themselves at a chaotic table laden with coins and loaves of bread, a visual metaphor for avarice.
Subject & Meaning
The exaggerated, monstrous visages serve as a biting commentary on the greed of contemporary political elites and the uneasy alliances of the period. By portraying the figures as voracious eaters, Gillray critiques the perceived self‑interest of leaders involved in a new coalition, suggesting that public policy is driven by personal enrichment rather than the common good.
Technique & Style
Gillray combines precise line work from etching and engraving with the tonal softness of aquatint, then applies watercolor washes by hand to enhance contrast and depth. The layered glazing of watercolor builds subtle color variations, while the sharp incised lines preserve the caricature’s biting detail, creating a dynamic interplay between line and tone.
History & Provenance
Produced at the height of Gillray’s reputation as a leading political cartoonist, the print forms part of his extensive series of caricatures targeting George III, members of Parliament, and other public figures. It was circulated as a single‑sheet print, typical of the era’s pamphlet culture, and later entered museum collections as an exemplar of late‑18th‑century British satire.
Artist & collection
Artist
James Gillray (13 August 1756 – 1 June 1815) was an English caricaturist and printmaker famous for his etched political and social satires, mainly published between 1792 and 1810.
