Pot Belly Collection

John Bull taking Luncheon or British Cooks cramming Old Grumble Gizzard with Bonne Chere
2966820 John Bull taking Luncheon or British Cooks cramming Old Grumble Gizzard with Bonne Chere, pub 1798 (hand coloured engraving) by Gillray

Long bellied armour, 1545. Suit of engraved armour with large long belly, large pass guards
FLO4678591 Long bellied armour, 1545. Suit of engraved armour with large long belly, large pass guards, plumed and visored helmet and pike

Life drawing of a bearded man (chalk on paper)
5648383 Life drawing of a bearded man (chalk on paper) by Valette, Adolphe (1876-1942); 63.5x46.5 cm; Manchester Art Gallery, UK; (add.info.: A study of a nude male standing in profile to the left)

Toy Cart with Grimacing Potbellied Dwarf (Yaksha), 1st century B. C. Creator: Unknown
Toy Cart with Grimacing Potbellied Dwarf (Yaksha), 1st century B.C

Vanity Fair Print of Richard Dowse
Victorian caricature of Richard Dowse, by Ape. 1824 to 1890 an Irish politician, barrister and judge, reputed to be the wittiest orator of his time

Job (oil on canvas)
XIR84999 Job (oil on canvas) by Bonnat, Leon Joseph Florentin (1833-1922); Musee Bonnat, Bayonne, France; French, out of copyright

Plate 377. Blacksmith, Two Models, Hammering on Anvil, 1872-85 (collotype on paper)
3950079 Plate 377. Blacksmith, Two Models, Hammering on Anvil, 1872-85 (collotype on paper) by Muybridge, Eadweard (1830-1904); 24.5x27 cm; Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover

Costumed Figure from Mexico, 7th-8th century (ceramic, pigment)
3472325 Costumed Figure from Mexico, 7th-8th century (ceramic, pigment) by Mayan (6th-8th century); 29.3 high cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The Bridal Night, pub. 1797 (hand coloured engraving)
3035683 The Bridal Night, pub. 1797 (hand coloured engraving) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Private Collection; (add.info.: Wedding night of Charlotte Augusta Matilda)

A peep at Christies; - or - tally-ho, and his Nimeny-pimmeney taking the morning lounge
3035674 A peep at Christies; - or - tally-ho, and his Nimeny-pimmeney taking the morning lounge, pub. 1796 (hand coloured engraving) by Gillray

Orange Jumper, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1809 (hand-coloured etching)
NCO193182 Orange Jumper, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1809 (hand-coloured etching) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Courtesy of the Warden and Scholars of New College

The Marriage of Cupid and Psyche, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1797 (etching)
NCO189743 The Marriage of Cupid and Psyche, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1797 (etching) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); 26x36.5 cm; Courtesy of the Warden and Scholars of New College

Mr Pickwick Adresses the Club, illustration for Character Sketches from Dickens
IL193474 Mr Pickwick Adresses the Club, illustration for Character Sketches from Dickens compiled by B.W. Matz, 1924 (colour litho) by Copping, Harold (1863-1932); Private Collection; English

Caricature of Emile Zola (1840-1902) illustration for the front cover of
CHT201755 Caricature of Emile Zola (1840-1902) illustration for the front cover of Le Grand Guignol, 1898 (colour litho) by Leandre, Charles (1862-1934); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

The Brothers Cheeryble, illustration for Sketches from Dickens compiled by B. W
IL193472 The Brothers Cheeryble, illustration for Sketches from Dickens compiled by B.W. Matz, 1924 (colour litho) by Copping, Harold (1863-1932); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

The Visit to Piccadilly, or A Prussian Reception, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1793
NCO193110 The Visit to Piccadilly, or A Prussian Reception, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1793 (hand-coloured etching) by Gillray

John Bull Taking a Luncheon, or British Cooks, cramming Old Grumble-Gizzard with
NCO190192 John Bull Taking a Luncheon, or British Cooks, cramming Old Grumble-Gizzard with Bonne-Chere, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1798 (hand-coloured etching) by Gillray

The Bridal-Night, 1797 (hand-coloured etching)
2562192 The Bridal-Night, 1797 (hand-coloured etching) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Private Collection; (add.info.: Wedding night of Charlotte Augusta Matilda)

The Marriage of Cupid & Psyche, pub. 1797 (hand coloured engraving)
3035678 The Marriage of Cupid & Psyche, pub. 1797 (hand coloured engraving) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Private Collection; (add.info.: Elizabeth Farren (c.1759-1829); Edward Smith-Stanley

The Grand Signior retiring, pub. 1796 (hand coloured engraving)
3035672 The Grand Signior retiring, pub. 1796 (hand coloured engraving) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Private Collection; (add.info.: George)

The Marriage of Cupid & Psyche, 1797 (hand-coloured engraving)
BAL42772 The Marriage of Cupid & Psyche, 1797 (hand-coloured engraving) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); O Shea Gallery, London, UK; (add.info.: Parody of the famous Marlborough Gem cameo)

The Grand-Signior Retiring, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1796 (hand-coloured etching)
NCO193152 The Grand-Signior Retiring, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1796 (hand-coloured etching) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Courtesy of the Warden and Scholars of New College

A Voluptuary under the Horrors of Digestion, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1792
NCO189772 A Voluptuary under the Horrors of Digestion, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1792 (hand-coloured etching) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Courtesy of the Warden and Scholars of New College

The Potbellied Man with the Tall Hat, c. 1622. Creator: Jacques Callot
The Potbellied Man with the Tall Hat, c. 1622

Illustration of a Brontosaurus sunbathing

Illustration of a Lambeosaurus standing on a weight scale while holding ice cream behind its back

Sir Richard Arkwright, 1789-90 (oil on canvas)
BAL72369 Sir Richard Arkwright, 1789-90 (oil on canvas) by Wright of Derby, Joseph (1734-97); 241.3x152. cm; Private Collection; English, out of copyright

Domestic Pig, Vietnamese Pot-bellied Pig, sow with two piglets, on straw bedding in trailer, Cumbria, England, november

Domestic Pig, Vietnamese Pot-bellied Pig sow, close-up of head, Cumbria, England, november

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"Pot Belly: A Curious Exploration of Gluttony and Excess in Art and Culture" In the realm of art, the pot belly has long been a subject of fascination, often depicted with humor or symbolism. From John Bull taking Luncheon to British Cooks cramming Old Grumble Gizzard with Bonne Chere, artists have captured this physical attribute in various forms. One such representation is seen in a life drawing of a bearded man, created using chalk on paper. The artist's strokes bring out the roundness and prominence of his pot belly, emphasizing its unique shape and texture. Moving through time, we encounter a toy cart adorned with a grimacing potbellied dwarf known as Yaksha from the 1st century B. C. This ancient creation reflects how even back then, people found amusement in exaggerating this bodily feature. Vanity Fair Print introduces us to Richard Dowse, whose distinguished figure proudly displays his well-rounded midsection. It serves as a reminder that not all bellies are born equal; some wear their excess weight with pride. The theme continues into Job's oil painting where an anonymous blacksmith hammers away at an anvil while two models observe. Their muscular bodies contrast sharply against the blacksmith's protruding stomach - perhaps symbolizing hard work versus indulgence. Traveling across continents brings us to Mexico's rich cultural heritage represented by a costumed figure from the 7th-8th century made from ceramic and pigment. Despite being stylized and abstracted, it still captures the essence of human form including our beloved pot bellies. Delving into satire takes us to The Bridal Night published in 1797 - here we witness humorous scenes surrounding marriage customs where exaggerated figures sport ample waistlines for comedic effect. A peep at Christie’s reveals another facet as wealthy patrons gather around artworks up for auction while enjoying their morning lounge.