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Cartoon, The Great Balloon
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Cartoon, The Great Balloon
Cartoon, The Great Balloon, by James Gillray. A satirical comment on the subject of Lord Grenvilles installation as Chancellor of Oxford University. The balloon is depicted as a fat man with hot air (labelled Promises) escaping from behind. The installation (3 July 1810) followed a divisive election in which Lord Eldon opposed Lord Grenville on political and religious grounds. Opponents like Gillray saw Grenvilles installation as a triumph for Catholic Emancipation. Faces in the crowd include political figures: Buckingham, Stafford, M.A. Taylor, Erskine, Tierney, Holland, Grey, Sidmouth, Cholmondeley, Whitbread, Watkin Williams-Wynn, Fingall and Sheridan. Date: 1810
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Media ID 14232509
© The Sharp Illustration Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library
1810 Ascending Balloon Ballooning Buckingham Chancellor Cholmondeley Comment Criticism Crucifix Election Emancipation Escaping Gillray Gown Grenville Harsh Installation Lampooning Oxford Papal Pope Promises Satire Satirical Sheridan Sidmouth Stafford Triple University Watkin Whitbread Williams Wynn
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This satirical print by James Gillray, titled 'Cartoon, The Great Balloon,' offers a harsh commentary on the installation of Lord Grenville as Chancellor of Oxford University in 1810. The image depicts a large balloon, personified as a fat man, with the label "Promises" escaping from behind. The installation followed a divisive election in which Lord Eldon opposed Lord Grenville on political and religious grounds. The balloon's ascent is transporting the Pope and the Triple Crown, symbolizing the papal influence and the monarchy's power in the university. Grenville's installation was seen by opponents like Gillray as a triumph for Catholic Emancipation, a controversial issue at the time. The crowd in the background includes several political figures, such as Buckingham, Stafford, M.A. Taylor, Erskine, Tierney, Holland, Grey, Sidmouth, Cholmondeley, Whitbread, Watkin Williams-Wynn, Fingall, and Sheridan. Their expressions range from amusement to disapproval. The balloon's crucifix and the back view of the man in the gown add a layer of humor to the commentary. The image's title, 'The Great Balloon,' and the caption, 'Early in the Morning, Ascending,' further emphasize the idea of a grand, yet empty promise. This satirical print reflects the political tensions and debates surrounding Lord Grenville's installation as Chancellor of Oxford University in 1810, providing a valuable historical insight into the era's political climate.
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