A Great Stream from a Petty Fountain; or John Bull swamped in a Flood of Taxes
A master of political satire, Gillray here uses watery metaphors to comment on new taxes proposed by the "Ministry of all the Talents," a coalition formed after the unexpected death of primeminister William Pitt, the Younger in January 1806. To raise revenue to fund the extended war with France, they hoped to increase income taxes and erase many exemptions, all embodied here as a flood that origininates from the mouth of Lord Henry Petty, then falls in stages into an "Unfathomable Sea of Taxation." Cormorants with human heads and beaks, and pelican-like pouches swarm to eat the fish (representing funds produced by the taxes), while John Bull, who embodies the nation's tax payers, has been thrown from his small boat and lost hold of an oar labeled "William Pitt." Each of the human-headed birds relates to an associate of the new ministry.
Artwork Details
- Title: A Great Stream from a Petty Fountain; or John Bull swamped in a Flood of Taxes
- Artist: James Gillray (British, London 1756–1815 London)
- Publisher: Hannah Humphrey (British, ca. 1745–1819)
- Subject: Sir Robert Adair (British, 1763–1855)
- Subject: Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth (British, Holborn 1757–1844 London)
- Subject: George Nugent Temple Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham
- Subject: Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Baronet (British, 1770–1844)
- Subject: Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby (British, 1752–1834)
- Subject: Edward Law 1st Baron Ellenborough (British, 1750–1818)
- Subject: Charles James Fox (British, 1749–1806)
- Subject: William Wyndham Grenville, Baron Grenville (British, 1759–1834)
- Subject: Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (British, Northumberland 1764–1845 Northumberland)
- Subject: James Maitland, 8th Earl of Lauderdale (British, 1759–1839)
- Subject: Francis Rawdon Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings and 2nd Earl of Moira (British, 1754–1826)
- Subject: Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (British, 1780–1863)
- Subject: William Pitt (British, 1759–1806)
- Subject: Richard Brinsley Sheridan (Irish, Dublin 1751–1816 London)
- Subject: John Horne Tooke (British, 1736–1812)
- Subject: William Windham (British, 1750–1810)
- Date: May 9, 1806
- Medium: Hand-colored etching
- Dimensions: Sheet: 10 7/16 × 15 5/8 in. (26.5 × 39.7 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Gift of Jill Spalding, 2022
- Object Number: 2022.309.4
- 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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