Carlo Pellegrini ('Ape'), *Statesmen No. 65*, Vanity Fair, 8 October 1870
Carlo Pellegrini · Chromolithograph, 8 October 1870
Pellegrini's caricature presents a heavyset, auburn-bearded man in a dark frock coat, light trousers, and black top hat held at his side — the exaggerated head and compressed torso being Pellegrini's signature device. The plate is captioned Statesmen No. 65 with the sardonic legend: 'He does his duty to his party, and is fortunate if it happens to be also his duty to his country.' The remark is a pointed Liberal-era jibe at party loyalty overriding national interest — squarely aimed at a Chancellor of the Exchequer whose fiscal decisions were read by Vanity Fair's Tory-leaning readership as politically convenient rather than principled. Pellegrini's handling is sympathetic in color but wry in proportion, the subject caught mid-stride, self-important yet slightly ridiculous.
About this artifact
- Creator
- Carlo Pellegrini
- Date
- Chromolithograph, 8 October 1870
- Rights
- Public domain — free to view, share, and reuse.
- Restoration
- Digitally restored and hosted by ComicBooks.com.
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