{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O248103"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O248103/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O248103","accessionNumber":"1232:95-1882","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"Dido, in Despair!","type":"published title"}],"summaryDescription":"Set within a bedroom, this scene takes Emma, Lady Hamilton, as its primary subject.  Although previously a beautiful woman, Hamilton had gained much weight, which Gillray accentuates in his caricature.  Rising from a curtained bed, the hugely overweight Hamilton, dressed in a nightgown and lace-trimmed cap, extends her arms and her right leg in anguish.  Although depicted in a slightly grotesque manner, traces of Lady Hamilton’s beauty are still visible.  Tears roll down her cheeks, and her gaze locks on the departing ships depicted through the open sash-window.  She mourns over Nelson who sails away with the fleet.  Behind Lady Hamilton in the bed, although slightly hidden by shadows, is her sleeping husband, William Hamilton.  \r\nAcross the floor, in the lower right corner, are a selection of objects from William Hamilton’s collection, including statues of Venus and a Satyr, various coins and medals, and a laughing bust of Messalina.  Set slightly to the left of the objects is an open book, the left page of which is inscribed with ‘Antiquities of Herculaneum Naples Caprea &c. &c. &c.’.  Hamilton had acted as the British Envoy to the Kingdom of Naples and the Two Sicilies from 1764 to 1798, placing him in the region around the period in which Pompeii and Herculaneum were excavated.  Antiquities from his collection emerged from these sites, on which he published works. \r\nAlthough Lady Hamilton and Nelson’s daughter, Horatia, was born only a few days prior to Gillray’s caricature, it is extremely unlikely that Gillray was aware of the birth.  In fact, Lady Hamilton kept secret the birth of their daughter for some time.  Gillray, instead, was simply interested in the relationship between Nelson, Lady Hamilton, and her husband, William Hamilton.  The 'ménage à trois' fascinated the public, and had become recognised internationally.\r\nGillray’s reference to Dido is particularly fitting.  In Virgil’s Aeneid, Dido, the founder and queen of Carthage, and Aeneas, the Trojan-hero, fall in love.  Aeneas, however, later follows orders sent by Jupiter and Mercury to gather his fleet and leave.  Despaired, Dido curses Aeneas and the Trojans, and goes on to kill herself with the sword that Aeneas had given her.  Gillray forms satirical parallels between Dido and Lady Hamilton, and between Nelson and Aeneas.  \r\nWith regards to the composition, Gillray likely looked to a painting of the same name by Giovanni Battista Cipriani.  Since the painting was completed in 1783, it hung in the collection of the Earl of Orford at Houghton, and was sold at Christie’s in 1990.    ","physicalDescription":"Etched caricature, with hand colouring, of an overweight woman, seated on the side of a bed, whilst looking out of an open window, and crying.  Green curtains surround her and the bed.  Title and inscription below image.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"James Gillray","id":"A13435"},"association":{"text":"designed and made","id":"x28674"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Hannah Humphrey","id":"A39511"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x28702"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"etching","id":"AAT53241"},{"text":"hand colouring","id":"AAT133555"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Etching with hand colouring","categories":[{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"},{"text":"Caricatures & Cartoons","id":"THES48983"}],"styles":[{"text":"early 19th century","id":"x36357"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLC (VA)","id":"THES49171"},"free":"","case":"GG","shelf":"138","box":"D"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"print","id":""}],[{"text":"drawing","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"6/2/1801","earliest":"1801-02-06","latest":"1801-02-06"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by John Jones","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"238","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"15/03/2016","earliest":"2016-03-15","latest":"2016-03-15"},"part":"Image","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"353","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"15/03/2016","earliest":"2016-03-15","latest":"2016-03-15"},"part":"Image","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"271","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"15/3/2016","earliest":"2016-03-15","latest":"2016-03-15"},"part":"Sheet","note":"Sheet measure through centre"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"380","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"15/3/2016","earliest":"2016-03-15","latest":"2016-03-15"},"part":"Sheet","note":"Sheet measured through centre"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"\"Ah, where, & ah where, is my gallant Sailor gone?_\r\n\"He's gone to Fight the Frenchmen, for George upon the Throne,\r\n\"He's gone to fight ye Frenchmen, t'loose t'other Arm & Eye,\r\n\"And left me with the old Antiques, to lay me down & Cry.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed below image, with two lines either side of title."},{"content":"Js. Gillray inv. & fec.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed below bottom left corner of image"},{"content":"Pubd. Feby. 6th 1808 _ by H. Humphrey No. 27 St. James's Street London _","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed below bottom right corner of image"}],"objectHistory":"Object originally bound in a guard-book containing one hundred and fifteen caricatures by T. Rowlandson, W. Heath, J. Gillray, R. Dighton, G. Cruikshank and others","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Caricature of Emma, Lady Hamilton, mourning over Nelson departing with his fleet, whilst her husband, William, sleeps in the bed beside her.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"BM Satires 9752","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"Jenkins & Sloan 189","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"Caricature of an overweight woman, dressed in a nightgown and a lace cap, leaping out of bed in distress.  She gazes out of the open window set to the left, whilst tears roll down her face.  Through the window, a view of a departing fleet is depicted.  In the bed behind the woman is an older man sleeping.  Beneath the window, a plush seat is present, upon which an open book sits.  On the left page, an inscription reads 'Studies of Academic Attitudes taken from life', and on the right page, and image of a reclining nude.  Set on the floor are the woman's garter and slippers, and in the lower right corner on the floor are a collection of antiquities, and another book.  To the right of the composition is a dressing table featuring various objects on top, including a beaded necklace, a glass, and a bottle inscribed with 'Maraschino'.  ","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Emma, Lady Hamilton","id":"N2455"},{"text":"William Hamilton","id":"N2008"},{"text":"lord nelson","id":"N1674"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["1232:95-1882"],"accessionNumberNum":"1232","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1882,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-11","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-08","availableToBook":false}}