Exhibition: A taste of one's own medicine

This exhibition comprised a unique collection of medical satire prints from the mid-18th century to the 1980s.

Graphic satire has saturated all levels of society since it emerged as a skilled artform in the 17th century. It developed into a thriving industry in the 18th century, becoming a powerful tool for expressing political and social opinions, not least towards medical professionals.

The exhibition includes satirical artist William Hogarth’s print ‘The company of undertakers’ which famously attacked the medical profession, cartoonist James Gillray’s print criticising English doctor Edward Jenner following his development of a successful vaccine against smallpox, and an illustration of one of the adventures of Baron Munchausen denouncing the effectiveness of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) in the 18th century.

The RCP cares for a unique collection of medical satire prints from the mid-18th century to the 1980s, selected and given by doctors and members over its 500-year history. Like all satire, these prints are closely tied to a particular time and place. They responded to contemporary events and were consumed by audiences who understood the circumstances of their creation.