William Bunbury, engraved by James Bretherton
College Fun or Quizzing the Proctor
Hand coloured engraving
27 x 34 cm
c.1790
In this playful scene, a proctor–garnering a powdered wig and academic dress–is reading a public proclamation regarding a ‘general fast.’ Unbeknownst to him, a mischievous student is pinning a satirical note on his back. The note mocks the proctor’s authority, reading, “From all Pride, Vanity, Glory and Hypocrisy, Good Lord Deliver us.” Meanwhile, two other students, dressed in academic gowns and mortarboards, stand to the left, laughing and gesturing at the proctor, clearly enjoying the other student’s prank.
This caricatural scene dates from the late 18th century, a period when William Bunbury, alongside James Gillray, Thomas Rowlandson, and Isaac Cruikshank, was producing humorous and often politically charged works. Their engravings frequently lampooned figures of authority, including politicians, clergy, and university officials. This engraving is therefore illustrative of its time, clearly representing broader trends in the unique convergence between art and politics.
William Bunbury was an English caricaturist and illustrator known for his humorous depictions of 18th-century social life. Born in 1750 into an aristocratic family, he studied at St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge, where he developed a passion for art. Unlike many professional artists of his time, Bunbury was a gentleman amateur, meaning he pursued art for personal enjoyment rather than financial necessity.
Though not as politically charged as contemporaries like James Gillray or Thomas Rowlandson, Bunbury’s style was more lighthearted and observational. His illustrations of rural life, student antics, and military themes were especially popular, influencing later British caricature. Although he passed away in 1811, he left a legacy of caricatures that wittily captured the unique humour and manners of Georgian England.
Condition: Generally very good, some age toning.
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