Shrine at St Ann's Hill

Size 26cm x 36cm

Originally published by Hannah Humphrey etched by James Gillray from 'The Genuine Works of James Gillray, engraved by himself. Thomas McLean edition on heavy rag-paper from the original copper plates printed 1830.

Fox kneels in profile to the right with bent back before an altar, his hands together. His unpowdered hair is cropped. From his pocket projects a book: 'New Constitut[ion]'. The altar, draped with a cloth on which crossed daggers are embroidered, is raised on a stone step. On it is a guillotine, dripping blood. To this is tied with a tricolour sash two tables, resembling those of the Ten Commandments, but of the 'DROIT DE L'HOMME: I. Right to Worship whom we please. II. Right to create & bow down to any thing we chuse to set up. III. Right to use in vain any Name we like. IV. Right to work Nine Days in the Week, & do what we please on the Tenth: V. Right to honour both Father & Mother, when we find it necessary. VI. Right to Kill. VII. Right to commit Adultery. VIII. Right to Plunder. IX. Right to bear what Witness we please. X. Right to covet our Neighbour[s] House & all that is his.' On the altar in front of the guillotine stand three roughly made posts on rectangular pedestals. The centre one (in place of a crucifix), inscribed 'Exit Homo', is surmounted by a large cap of 'Egalité' with a tricolour cockade; at its base is a skull and cross-bones. On the other posts are busts: (left) 'Robert- \ speire'; to the post are nailed two bleeding hands; (right) 'Buona \ -parte'. The altar and guillotine are backed by draped and fringed curtains.

From the upper left corner of the design a shaft of light surrounded by clouds descends towards Fox. In this are the winged heads of six members of the Opposition, all wearing bonnets-rouges and looking towards the 'Droit de l'Homme'. In front is Norfolk, next and on the left is Lansdowne with an inscrutable smile. They are followed by Bedford; above him are Tierney and Lauderdale. Last, and on a smaller scale, is the malevolent head of Nicholls. 26 May 1798