- Museum number
- 1864,0813.287
- Title
- Object: Pantagruel Agonisant
- Description
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A Dutch broadside satirising Louis XIV's reaction on hearing that the news of William's III death was false, with an etching by de Hooghe. The Devil (1) offers a cup and whispers to Louis(2) as he lies on his deathbed, a heart-shaped jewel on his chest decorated with the royal orb and surmounted by a crescent. A crowd is gathered at the bedside: James II (3), seated at Louis's head, holding his spectacles to his eyes, and wearing a courier's bag and horn to indicate that he is in continual flight, a comet on his breast carries the same message; at his knee stands the Prince of Wales (4), dressed in jesuit garb with leading reins at his shoulders and carrying a model windmill; three of Louis's mistresses kneel in front of the bed, Madame Fontange (5), Madame de Maintenon (6), Madame de Montespan (7); on the far side, Madame de Lavalliere (8) in nuns's habit; the Marquis de Louvois (9), wearing a sword of coins, leans on a pile of money bags on the foot of the bed; behind him stands, Colbert, Marquis de Croissy (10) holding a document letterd "Tailles"; next to him stands, "the mitred swine" (11; according to Cilleßen, the Bishop of Munster). To the right, three French generals, Melac holding a flaming torch (12), Boufflers about to fling a lighted grenade (13) and Luxembourg (14) together with other military men, one of whom flourishes an axe, react in horror to the approach of William III (24) seen on horseback through an archway from which issue flames and the papal tiara and a sword made of coins appear about to fall; on the wall behind the generals, are views of the sites of Louis's sieges or battles, Orange, Genoa, Strassburg, Algiers. Behind the bishop stand two figures described as "Bonrepos avec les partisans" (15); on the wall behind the bed is a picture of three men, the alleged forebears of Louis, a Jesuit (16), a baker (17) and a condemned criminal (18). At lower right, two men with wooden legs and crutches (19 and 20), leave for Germany and Italy with the news that William is not dead, papers lettered "Prise de Turin", "Mort du duc de Savoie", and "Prise de Charleroi" at their feet. Cringing before William are Tyrconnel (21) and Sarsfield (22); an army beyond (23) stands for Lauzun's forces in Ireland. To left, at the head of the bed, behind the curtains, playing music are the Grand Dauphin (25), the Prince de Condé (26), the Prince de Conti (27) and another. In the lower left, Father Petre (28) sits on the floor, saying his rosary, a large volume at his side. In the left background, through an arch lettered "Les grands orphelins de France" in reference to the musicians below, is seen a substantial building in front of which is a scaffold, lettered "La Greve", with a wheel and a gallows labelled, "sans emploi". In the foreground, centre, is a reproduction of BM Satires 1241, the French print announcing the death of William III. Engraved title at top of image, inscriptions, and numbering 1-28, and, on a separate sheet, Dutch and French verses in letterpress, including legends, in six columns. (n.p.: [1690])
- Production date
- 1690
- Dimensions
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Height: 269 millimetres (etching)
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Height: 234 millimetres (letterpress)
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Width: 349 millimetres (etching)
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Width: 350 millimetres (letterpress)
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- The print is signed "Guindeau inv., J Marlais f. a Londres"; "Marlais" is considered as a pseudonym of de Hooghe. "Guindeau" is probably another pseudonym, but is not listed as one of de Hooghe's in Th/B. The place of publication is false .
For curatorial comment on De Hooghe’s full broadsides’ sequence relating to the Glorious Revolution, see 1868,0808.3380.
For another impression with design plate only, see 1868,0808.3335. For another impression of text and title, see 1975,U.1595.
For a broadside on the same subject with comparable composition, see 1885,1114.255.
For an impression of the broadside appearing at the bottom centre of the design, see 1862,1011.799.
Text taken from Meredith Hale, 2020, p.95
Here Louis XIV appears as Pantagruel the giant son of the giant Gargantuel, who lies on his deathbed at the centre of the composition. The giant Louis, a literal translation of his title “Le Grand”, is mortally shocked by the news that William III was not killed during the battle of the Boyne on 1 July 1690. This satire, which was made in early July 1690, refers to the rumour of William III’s death which was generated by an injury he sustained during the battle. The false report of William’s death and by implication, James II’s victory in Ireland – and the aftermath at the French court upon the rumour’s correction – are the subject of this satire and De Hooghe depicts the French king dying of embarrassment.
Lit.
Wolfgang Cilleßen (ed.) Krieg der Bilder, 1997, F.VII.3 (p.312-313)
Meredith Hale, The Birth of Modern Political Satire, 2020, p.99-110
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
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1990 April-Sep, Belfast, Ulster Mus, Kings in Conflict
- Associated names
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Representation of: Louis XIV, King of France and Navarre
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Representation of: William III, King of England
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Representation of: Father Edward Petre
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Representation of: James II, King of England
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Representation of: James Stuart, the Old Pretender
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Representation of: Marie Angélique Scorailles de Roussille, Duchesse de Fontanges
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Representation of: Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon
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Representation of: Françoise Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, marquise de Montespan
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Representation of: Françoise Louise de la Baume le Blanc, Duchess of la Vallière
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Representation of: François Michel Le Tellier, Marquis de Louvois
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Representation of: Charles Colbert, Marquis of Croissy
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Representation of: Richard Talbot, Earl and Duke of Tyrconnell
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Representation of: Patrick Sarsfield, Earl of Lucan
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Representation of: Ezechiel du Mas, Comte de Mélac
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Representation of: Louis Francois, Duc de Boufflers
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Representation of: François Henri de Montmorency-Bouteville, duc de Luxembourg
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Representation of: Antonin Nompar de Caumont, Duke de Lauzun
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Representation of: Louis, the Grand Dauphin
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Representation of: Louis III de Bourbon, Prince de Condé
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Representation of: François Louis de Bourbon, Prince de Conti
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Representation of: Devil
- Associated events
- Associated Event: War of the Grand Alliance 1689-1697
- Acquisition date
- 1864
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1864,0813.287