About the Artwork
Balaam,--or the Majesty of the People
1783
James Gillray (Artist) English, 1756-1815 Douglas K. Semivan (Printer) American, born 1949
Etching printed in black ink on laid paper
Plate: 9 7/8 × 13 7/8 inches (25.1 × 35.2 cm) Sheet: 18 × 24 inches (45.7 × 61 cm)
Prints
Prints, Drawings & Photographs
Gift of Draper Hill and Douglas K. Semivan
F1983.251
Public Domain
Markings
Signed, on plate, lower left: J Gilllay fecit
Inscribed, on plate, in a banner from the mouth of the man at the left: We Farmers have our Bodys Eat up, for the good of our Souls Inscribed, label for each of three tails of the whip: Pious Fraud, English Statutes, Popish Canons Inscribed, label on basket: Tithes Inscribed, on banner from mouth of uniformed man: I am an Independant [sic] Country Gentleman & Colc of the Militia Inscribed, lower right: Pubd April 10th 1783 by W Humphrey N, 227 Strand. Inscribed, lower, BALAAM,--or the MAJESTY of the PEOPLE. The Lord open'd the Mouth of the Ass, &c. Inscribed, in pencil, on verso, lower left: Pulled APRil 10 1983 . D.K. SEMIVAN
Watermark, upper right: of Richard de Bas mill.
Provenance
1983-present, gift to the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)For more information on provenance, please visit:
Provenance pageExhibition History
Please note: This section is empty
The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.
We welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.
Suggest FeedbackPublished References
George, M. Dorothy, CATALOGUE OF POLITICAL AND PERSONAL SATIRES, London: British Museum.
Hill, Draper, THE SATIRICAL ETCHINGS OF JAMES GILLRAY, New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1976.
Kindly share your feedback or any additional information, as this record is still a work in progress and may need further refinement.
Suggest FeedbackCatalogue Raisoneé
Please note: This section is empty
Credit Line for Reproduction
James Gillray, Balaam,--or the Majesty of the People, 1783, etching printed in black ink on laid paper. Detroit Institute of Arts, Gift of Draper Hill and Douglas K. Semivan, F1983.251.
Feedback
We regularly update our object record as new research and findings emerge, and we welcome your feedback for correction or improvement.
Suggest Feedback![Balaam,--or the Majesty of the People](https://dia.widen.net/content/ilkrgkx0g0/webp/F1983.251-d1-2017-04-10.webp?quality=100)
![Balaam,--or the Majesty of the People](https://dia.widen.net/content/ilkrgkx0g0/webp/F1983.251-d1-2017-04-10.webp?w=500&quality=75)