James Gillray, Fine Bracing Weather

James GIllray’s Fine Bracing Weather is part of series of seven etchings, entitled “Weather.” They depict various states of Englishmen “enjoying” the weather. The most famous of these is “Very Slippy weather,” because it shows a man slipping on the ice outside of the print shop where GIllray’s works were published. 

James Gillray, Weather series, 1808

This print shop was owned and operated by Mrs. Hannah Humphrey, a prominent print seller in 1800’s London. It is hinted that they had a romantic relationship, but they were known business partners, as she published almost all of his works. He lived upstairs from the print shop.

James Gillray was considered “the father of the political cartoon”, although his works and caricatures are considered fine art for their beauty of execution. His most famous work is “The Plumb-pudding is in Trouble,” which depicts Pitt and Napoleon carving up the world (a globe). It was said that Napoleon was highly amused by it. 

James Gillray, The Plumb-pudding in Danger, 1805

Fine Bracing Weather was published in 1808, towards the latter part of Gillray’s life. His eyes started failing when he was in his 50’s and he couldn’t continue to produce work that lived up to his standards. He lapsed into a depression, which he attempted to alleviate with alcohol. He eventually died in 1815, under the care of Mrs. Hannah Humphrey.

In this particular print of “Fine Bracing Weather,” you can see “London Published Feb 10th, 1808, H Humphrey, 27 St James Street” and “Etch’d by J Gillray” along the bottom. The same print appears in quite a few museum collections:

Fine Bracing Weather at The National Gallery

Fine Bracing Weather at The National Portrait Gallery (UK)

Fine Bracing Weather at The Art Institute of Chicago

Fine Bracing Weather in The Minneapolis Institute of Art Collection

Fine Bracing Weather in The Yale University Library

Fine Bracing Weather at The Victoria and Albert Museum

The hand painted details on this one are very different from the ones I found in the museum collections. The ice skates have been embellished with actual silver paint, and green touches were added to the tree in the background, almost giving it a tropical look. I don’t know if these details add or detract from the value, but they certainly add a touch of whimsy to the final result. The number “557” is in the upper left corner.

Interested in acquiring this James Gillroy Fine Bracing Weather Print?

You can Contact me with any questions, as I represent the owner, who is my son. At the age of 12 he found the print in a thrift shop and to my surprise, insisted on purchasing it. When I asked him why he wanted it, he said because it was “weird and different.” It hung in his room for a few years, but he eventually got tired of the “weird and different” aesthetic. I think it is a testament to his ability to recognize something of value, based on his own instincts, and personal aesthetics. As a 12 year old, he was able to identify something that exists in museums. Whether he chooses to sell it or not, I hope this will be the lesson he adopts – Trust your aesthetic instincts.


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