"The great believer in Roman Catholicism." Caricature c1871.

by Carlo Pellegrini (Ape)

Vanity Fair caricature of Mr George Hammond Whalley. Statesmen. No. 75 by ‘Ape’ (Carlo Pellegrini, 1839-1889).

The accompanying text states... "Through a special revelation afforded him by Providence for the salvation of his country, he is the one man who is thoroughly aware that the Church of rome is the one motive power in the world, and that all the play and action of public affaoras. traced by shallower minds to more immediate causes, are in reality nothing more than the outcome of a vast Romish conspiracy against the Protestant religion... He is as modest as he is great."

Vanity Fair was a weekly magazine with eight to ten pages of social comment, published in London from 1868 to 1914. Circulation was guaranteed by the inclusion of a caricature, parodying a newsworthy personage each week. Lithographs by Vincent Brooks were accompanied by witty text by the editor under the pseudonym Jehu Junior. Over the years of publication it became a mark of honour to be the 'victim' of one of the magazine's caricaturists. Carlo Pellegrini and ‘Spy’ (Leslie Ward, 1851-1922) were the major artists employed.

Page: 355 x 240 (14 x 9.5 inches).