For sale is an original 1869 VANITY FAIR ILLUSTRATION Entitled “STATESMEN, No 2.” The illustration reads “Were he a worse man, he would be a better statesman”. This was created by Italian artist and caricaturist Carlo Pellegrini and published in the 6 February 1869 edition of Vanity Fair. The artist signed his artwork “Ape”. This illustration is matted and professionally framed. The illustration measures about 13 inches by 8 1/2 inches. The frame measures 19 1/2 inches by 13 1/2 inches wide. The black frame has some minor scathes.
The subject of the caricaturist was William Ewart Gladstone. He was born in Liverpool to Scottish parents. In 1832, he entered the House of Commons beginning his political career as a High Tory, a grouping that became the Conservative Party. In a career lasting over 60 years, he was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for 12 years, spread over four non-consecutive terms (the most of any British prime minister) beginning in 1868 and ending in 1894. He also was Chancellor of the Exchequer four times, for over 12 years. Apart from 1845 to 1847, he was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1832 to 1895 and represented a total of five constituencies.
