The Right Honorable William Pitt

Art Historical Context

Created in 1789 by the celebrated British caricaturist James Gillray, this etching and engraving portrays William Pitt the Younger, who served as Britain’s Prime Minister during a turbulent era that included the early years of the French Revolution. Gillray, a master of political satire, frequently turned his sharp eye on Pitt and other leading figures, using exaggerated features and symbolic details to comment on contemporary events. The work’s formal title belies the artist’s typically witty and critical approach, offering viewers a glimpse into how public figures were both celebrated and scrutinized through popular prints. Etching and engraving were ideal media for such images, allowing artists to produce affordable, widely circulated sheets that reached a broad audience beyond the elite. Measuring roughly 16 by 12 inches, this print would have been displayed in homes, shops, and coffeehouses, shaping public opinion as much as it reflected it. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, the work remains a vivid example of how eighteenth-century graphic art blended portraiture with pointed social commentary.