Honi. Soi. Qui. Mal. Y. Pense: The Caricature Shop of G. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street, London
Theodore Lane British
Publisher George Humphrey British
Not on view
A crowd of boisterous Londoners is shown inspecting satires critical of Queen Caroline, the estranged wife of the recently crowned King George IV. These are displayed in the bow-front shop window of George Humphrey, a print publisher who inherited a successful business from his aunt Hannah in 1818. Humphrey supported the king in the dramatic period between 1820 and 1821 when Caroline returned to England from the Continent hoping to be recognized as consort, but was sued for divorce, barred from the coronation, collapsed and died. From the mid eighteenth century, print publishers placed newly issued satires against the panes of their shop windows to draw customers. Humorous, topical images drew viewers from all social classes and encouraged lively interaction.
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