Habits of New French Legislators, and other Public Functionaries: Le Ministre d'Etat, en Grand Costume
This is the first in a series of twelve plates in which Gillray portrays members of the Whig opposition wearing the new ceremonial robes designed by Jacques-Louis David for the prominent public officials of the French Directorate. Here he presents Charles James Fox as "Minister of State."
Le Ministre d'Etat, en Grand Costume [April 18, 1798]
© Trustees of the British Museum
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In general, Gillray follows the French illustration of the minister's robes with its scarlet plumes and large white collar, but as in the English illustration, he also includes the more prominent decoration around the skirt and cloak.
of the Robes Prescribed for Le Ministre d'Etat [1796/97]
Unlike either of the illustrations, however, Fox is shown standing on the official motto of the British monarchy: "Dieu et mon droit" (God and my right) as if to suggest the displacement of the monarchy by the new revolutionary government with Fox as (prime) Minister. But the pose Fox assumes in Gillray's print is ironically that of another king, Henry VIII, in the iconic portrait by Hans Holbein. The insinuation is that Fox harbors ambitions even beyond that of Prime Minister in a revolutionary government.
After Hans Holbein the Younger
© Egremont Collection, Petworth House
Sources and Reading
- Commentary from the British Museum on Habits of New French Legislators, and other Public Functionaries: Le Ministre d'Etat, en Grand Costume.
- "Charles James Fox," Wikipedia
- Collection des nouveaux costumes des autorités constituées, civils et militaires
- Dresses of the Representatives of the People. . .
- Thomas Wright and R.H. Evans, Historical and Descriptive Account of the Caricatures of James Gillray #185
- Thomas Wright and Joseph Grego, The Works of James Gillray, the Caricaturist; With the History of His Life and Times pp. 239-240.
NEXT: French Habits 2
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