Modern Grace
1796
Medium
etching and engraving with publisher's hand coloring on laid paper
Dimensions
image: 23.9 × 35.2 cm (9 7/16 × 13 7/8 in.) sheet: 30 × 48 cm (11 13/16 × 18 7/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
2013.170.3
Art Historical Context
**Modern Grace** (1796) is a vibrant satirical print by James Gillray, one of Britain's most celebrated caricaturists of the late 18th century. Created through etching and engraving with publisher hand coloring on laid paper this work measures nearly 24 x 35 cm in its image area, making it a compact yet impactful piece designed for wide circulation. Gillray's of these techniques allowed for sharp lines, intricate details, and vivid hues that amplified the bite of his social commentary, a hallmark of the period's printmaking revolution. Produced during a time of political upheaval in Britain—a...