James Gillray 1801 Antique Satire Etching Print Art Caricature Grosz Provenance

Details

Description

From the private archive of the Estate of Lilian Grosz (1930–2025), daughter-in-law of the legendary German Expressionist artist George Grosz … Read more From the private archive of the Estate of Lilian Grosz (1930–2025), daughter-in-law of the legendary German Expressionist artist George Grosz (1893–1959). This piece was originally part of George Grosz’s personal reference collection and study archive, preserved for decades by his son, Peter M. Grosz (the artist's archivist), and subsequently by his wife, Lilian Grosz, in Princeton, New Jersey. As a co-manager of the George Grosz Estate, Lilian meticulously curated and protected the family’s historic holdings. We possess full documented provenance for the purchase of these caricatures from the George Grosz estate, including the official sales receipt, address, exact dates of the estate sale, photographic evidence from the location, and books from his personal library bearing his collection stamps.

George Grosz was a 20th-century master of social and political satire. It is a well-documented art-historical fact that Grosz deeply studied, collected, and was profoundly inspired by James Gillray’s work, openly credititng the 18th-century British master as a foundational influence on his own revolutionary satirical style. Owning a rare caricature from Grosz's personal study collection offers exceptional historical context and an elite, museum-level pedigree connecting two centuries of satirical genius.

TITLE: Preparing for the Grand Attack -or- a Private Rehearsal of "The ci-devant Ministry in danger"

ARTIST: James Gillray (British, 1756–1815)

PUBLISHER: Hannah Humphrey, London

DATE OF PUBLICATION: December 4, 1801

BRITISH MUSEUM REFERENCE: BM Satires 9739
Authentic early 1801 impression with a blank reverse (NOT a later Bohn or McLean reissue)

Fine antique etching and aquatint on paper with vibrant contemporary hand-coloring

DIMENSIONS: 14.75 x 11.25 inches (accurate edge-to-edge sheet measurement)

Beautiful pre-owned vintage condition. Exceptional and vibrant contemporary hand-coloring, which remains incredibly fresh and detailed. The paper shows wonderful, clean preservation for an authentic 200-year-old print, with a blank reverse and only minor historical aging, toning, or light foxing consistent with its decades in a premier private archive. Unframed. Please inspect all photos carefully as they serve as the primary visual description of its physical state.

This print is part of a remarkable collection of 75 authentic 18th and 19th-century satirical engravings acquired from a prominent estate sale. See less