The Magnanimous Minister, Chastising Prussian Perfidy.–vide–Morning Chronicle April 28th 1806

This hand-colored etching was created by James Gillray, likely around 1806, and satirizes British politics of the Napoleonic era. Gillray was a prolific caricaturist whose work often critiqued the major political figures of his day. Here, we see William Pitt the Younger, the British Prime Minister, towering over a kneeling figure representing Prussia. Pitt is depicted as a powerful, almost vengeful figure, chastising Prussia for its perceived betrayal and alliance with France, represented by Napoleon in the background. The print reflects the intense political anxieties of the time, with Britain at war with Napoleonic France and wary of shifting alliances on the European continent. Gillray's caricature plays on popular anti-French sentiment, using stereotypes and derogatory language. The print suggests a complex interplay of power, betrayal, and national identity. It evokes the emotional turbulence of a nation grappling with its place on the world stage.