Tom Paine's Nightly Pest
This satire comments on the British prosecution of Thomas Paine, who was then in France. On December 8, 1792 he was found guilty in absentia for libel in passages published in his "Rights of Man." Here, Paine sleeps wearing a cap of liberty, near a curtain decorated with fleur-de-lys. His headboard supports images of guardian angels Charles James Fox and Dr. Priestly, and the pillow is inscribed "Vive l'America." The author dreams of judicial wigs, a dungeon and a gibbet, and his coat pocket, lying across the bed, contains a copy of "Common Sense."
Artwork Details
- Title: Tom Paine's Nightly Pest
- Artist: James Gillray (British, London 1756–1815 London)
- Publisher: Hannah Humphrey (British, ca. 1745–1819)
- Subject: Thomas Paine (American (born England), Thetford, Norfolk 1737–1809 New York)
- Subject: Charles James Fox (British, 1749–1806)
- Subject: Joseph Priestley (British, 1733–1804)
- Date: December 10, 1792
- Medium: Etching and aquatint
- Dimensions: plate: 11 9/16 x 14 3/8 in. (29.4 x 36.5 cm)
sheet: 14 1/8 x 18 7/8 in. (35.9 x 47.9 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Gift of William H. Huntington, 1883
- Object Number: 83.2.985
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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Multiple artists/makers
June 13, 1781
Multiple artists/makers
[1830]
James Gillray
June 19, 1780
Multiple artists/makers
after April 1785
James Gillray
Hannah Humphrey
July 16, 1805
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