"An Admiral" Vanity Fair caricature Rear-Admiral Lord John Hay, C.B. c1875.

by Carlo Pellegrini (Ape)

Original Vanity Fair lithograph "An Admiral" from a watercolour caricature of Rear Admiral Lord John Hay, C.B. for Men of the Day No. CXIII (113) on October 23 1875.

The accompanying text includes "Lord John has spent his life from childhood in the active service of his country. At eleven he was already at sea in his uncle's ship on the coast of Spain, and the next year he joined the Navy formally. After this he had the luck to be always found wherever fighting was going on. At fifteen he had won a medal in a war with China, and at nineteen he was made Lieutenant, and went to Glasgow to study shipbuilding and the new inventions of steam." He was honoured for distinguished action in a number of wars, entered politics, returned to the Navy, and became second in command of the Channel Fleet. "Lord John is in truth a very able man in various ways. A first-rate naval commander, he is also a politician of much judgment, and an official of complete reliability."

Vanity Fair was a weekly magazine of social comment, published in London from 1868 to 1914. With eight to ten pages each issue, Vanity Fair magazine's popularity was guaranteed with the inclusion of an amusing caricature, lithographed from a watercolour, parodying any newsworthy personage. Over the years of publication it became a mark of honour to be the 'victim' of one of the magazine's caricaturists. The publisher accompanied each with a witty text, written under his nickname of 'Jehu Junior' (after the biblical prophet who effected the downfall of his enemies). He considered the caricatures made grim faces more grim, grotesque figures more grotesque, and dull people duller by the genius of ‘Ape’" (Carlo Pellegrini, 1839-1889). It was the first time lithography had been used for caricatures. They were printed by the eminent lithographer, Vincent Brooks (1814-1885).

Page size 355 x 230 (14 x 9 inches). In good condition except for a little soiling in the margins, and Indian ink "95" at top right and "Adml. Lord John.." at lower right.