A parody astrological diagram showing opposing aspects of the life of settlers in Jamaica: langorous noons and the hells of yellow fever. Coloured aquatint after A.James, 1800.

  • James, Abraham., active 1800-1802.
Date:
1 October 1800
Reference:
18134i
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About this work

Description

The bottom sphere is circumscribed by a scythe which the beast of yellow fever is holding with its right hand. In its other hand it holds an empty hour-glass. The ghoulish figure on the left is being attacked by a scorpion which has inserted its tail into his neck. On the right, the bony hand of the ghoul, who has an overgrown moustache, clutches his side with sharp talons. The next sphere is circumscribed by a parodic angel's wings; he again appears as a Father Time figure, but with a bottle of opium; underneath his fierce, white-eyed visage, the colonialists swoon, blissfully unaware of the fever that rages below. Outside this sphere the sun spreads out, flanked by symbols of the zodiac (the crab and lion)

Publication/Creation

London (50 Oxford Street) : William Holland, 1 October 1800.

Physical description

1 print : aquatint with etching, with watercolour ; image 30.4 x 47.7 cm

Lettering

The torrid zone. Or, blessings of Jamaica. ; A.J. 67 Regt. invent. et pinxit 1800 ... Lettering under damned figure on left: Sore throat. Under right-hand figure: Dry gripes. On bottle held by white-eyed Father Time: Opium. On the belly of the monster: Yellow fever

Creator/production credits

According to M.D. George (British Museum Catalogue of political and personal satires, London 1870-1954, vol. VIII, no. 9948), the artist "A.J." was Abraham James.

References note

Not found in: British Museum Catalogue of political and personal satires, London 1870-1954
H. Bullock, 'Major Abraham James, 67th Foot, military author and artist', Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, 1961, vol. 39, no. 157 (March, 1961), pp. 11-17

Reference

Wellcome Collection 18134i

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