366. JAMES GILLRAY (1756-1815). THE APOTHEOSIS OF HOCHE; TITIANUS REDIVIVUS or THE SEVEN WISE MEN CONSULTING THE NEW VENETIAN ORACLE, A SCENE IN YE ACADEMIC GROVE; DISCIPLES CATCHING THE MANTLE - THE SPIRIT OF DARKNESS, OVERSHADOWING THE PRIESTS OF BAAL.

Three, etchings with hand colouring, published by H. Humphrey, 1797-1808, unframed
49 x 37.5cm.; 52.5 x 40cm.; and 37.5 x 33cm. (3)

* General Lazare Hoche, an unpleasant character even amongst other French Revolutionary leaders, was known as ‘The Butcher of La Vendee’. He was personally responsible for the massacre of at least 200,000 men, women and children; and for the devastation of huge areas of Western France during his war against French Royalist rebels c.1794-96. Infamous for the barbarity of his slaughters, even the Angel Hoche’s harp is a mini guillotine.