A Military Sketch, of a Gilt Stick, or Poker Emblazoned
January 11, 1800
Medium
Hand-colored etching
Dimensions
plate: 9 3/4 x 7 7/8 in. (24.8 x 20 cm) sheet: 11 9/16 x 8 13/16 in. (29.3 x 22.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Georgiana W. Sargent, in memory of John Osborne Sargent, 1924
Accession Number
24.63.259
Tags
Art Historical Context
**A Military Sketch, of a Gilt Stick, Poker Emblazoned (1800) is a hand-colored etching by renowned British caricaturist James Gillray published by Hannah Humphrey. Measuring about 10 by 8 inches, this print exemplifies the sharp-witted satire that made Gillray a master of 19th-century political commentary. Hand-coloring, a hallmark of the era's popular prints, added vividness and humor, making these affordable etchings sought-after in London's print shops. Created amid the Napoleonic Wars, the title slyly mocks military pomp—perhaps lampooning a high-ranking officer or courtier whose "gilt s...