RARE 1870 BRITISH CARTOON "Irish Tempest" APE-LIKE IRISHMAN Land Act

Description: Illustration by John Tenniel, from British Punch humor/satire magazine, original, not a modern reproduction, pulled from March 19, 1870 issue. Image shown is slightly cropped. Condition: very good -- some age toning, overall clean, the page has been humidified and flattened for best appearance and for framing; the backside is blank. THE IRISH "TEMPEST." Caliban (Rory of the Hills). "This island's mine, by sycorax my mother, which thou tak'st from me." - Shakespeare.+ Out of the vast number of cartoons presented in Punch, one of the most striking and horrific is "The Irish 'Tempest.'" The artist, Sir John Tenniel, depicts "Rory of the Hills" as a version of the monstrous Caliban from Shakespeare's "The Tempest," in an untamed and virtually inhuman form. The shape of the Irishman's body and face attest to the animalistic characteristics that usually accompanied English descriptions of the Irish in the nineteenth century. The prognathous jaw and masses of unkempt facial hair render the Irishman more apish than human. His body as a whole, a massive torso supported on muscular but goatish legs, adds to this animalistic portrayal. Moreover, the Irishman's thick, dagger-like teeth, his slouched, thrusting body, his clenched and outstreched fist, and his store of weapons all emphasize the aggressiveness and violence that the English attributed to the Irish. The upright figure of Gladstone, protecting the lovely and frightened lady Hibernia, provides a contrast which renders the Irishman even more repulsive and brutal: although Ireland itself is depicted as the beautiful, innocent Hibernia, the Irish Fenians (and other discontented groups) are depicted as the threatening, ragged "Rory"/Caliban. The cartoonist, playing off the quotation from "The Tempest," arms Gladstone with a wizard's robe and the magic staff of his Irish Land Bill, thus creating a Prospero to contend with Caliban and his claim to the land via the witch Sycorax. The division of the landscape in the background emphasizes the division between England and Ireland but allows Gladstone/Prospero and "Rory"/Caliban to "stand their ground" on the same land. The cartoon presents the crux of the conflict over the Irish Land Bill and the Irish Question in general: Should the Irish be allowed to govern themselves or should the English "save" Ireland from her own people?+ Ultramontanism is a clerical political conception within the Catholic Church that places strong emphasis on the prerogatives and powers of the Pope. It contrasts with Gallicanism, the belief that popular civil authority—often represented by the monarch's or state's authority—over the Church is comparable to that of the Pope. Keywords: William Gladstone, Irish Land Act of 1870, ultramontanism, sectarianism, ruffians, Bright Clauses, monsters, subhuman, demonized, dehumanized, animalized, Shakespeare, Rory of the Hills, Miranda, anti-Irish, literary references, racism, Fenian. Over 4,500 Punch cartoons listed for sale (store category "Punch cartoons") -- humor, satire and propaganda; combine orders and save shipping charges. Questions are always welcome. If buying more than one, please use 'Add to Basket' instead of 'Buy now' then hit "send total" so I can adjust the invoice for shipping. WHAT IS PUNCH?Punch, a magazine of humor and satire, ran from 1841-2002. A very British institution renowned internationally for its wit and irreverence, it helped to coin the term "cartoon" in its modern sense as a humorous illustration. Punch was the world's most celebrated magazine of wit and satire. From its early years as a campaigner for social justice to its transformation into national icon, Punch played a central role in the formation of British identity -- and how the rest of the world saw the British nation. In its formative years Punch combined humors, illustration and political debate with a fresh and radical audacity. During its heyday in the late 1800s, it reflected the conservative views of the growing middle-classes and copies of it could be found in the libraries of diplomats, cabinet ministers and even royalty. In the Western world, Punch played a significant role in the development of satire. In the world of illustration, it practically revolutionized it. Over the decades as it charted the interests, concerns and frustrations of the country and today it stands as an invaluable source of cartoon art, satire, but as primary source material for historians.Sir John Tenniel (1820 –1914) was an English illustrator, graphic humorist and political cartoonist prominent in the second half of the 19th century. Tenniel is remembered mainly as the principal political cartoonist for Punch magazine for over 50 years and for his illustrations to Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (1871).

Price: 29.95 USD

Location: Milton, Vermont

End Time: 2025-01-06T20:11:51.000Z

Shipping Cost: 6.95 USD