print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.12526
- Title
- Object: The High German method of destroying Vermin at Rat-stadt.
- Description
-
Two ferocious Austrian hussars have decapitated the two French envoys. One (left) holds his victim feet in air, the head between the feet. The other stands still, blood spouting from his neck, while the soldier displays to the victim the head spiked on his sabre. The third (De Bry), slashed with sabre-cuts and dropping a dispatch-box, flees before a mob of soldiers. On the left is the back of the travelling carriage, with three trunks inscribed respectively: 'Roberjot', 'Bonnier', 'Jean Debry'. An open dispatch-box with papers is on the ground. After the title: '"Now you shall see! how the cruel Austrians turn'd the Heads of \ "two French Gentlemen, whose brains were deraigned.' 22 May 1799
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1799
- Dimensions
-
Height: 257 millimetres
-
Width: 362 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VII, 1942)
The outrage on the three French plenipotentiaries at the Congress of Rastadt occurred on 28 Apr.: the affair is still mysterious but Barbaczy, in command of Szekler hussars, was responsible. Debry was left for dead but escaped. 'Camb. Mod. Hist.' viii. 654-5; Sorel, 'L'Europe et la Rév. fr.' v, 1910, pp. 394-401.
A sketch in pen for this is in the Print Room. Only the four principal figures and the back of the coach are drawn. The manner has some resemblance to that of pen drawings by Marquis Townshend.
Grego, 'Gillray', p. 260. Wright and Evans, No. 242. Reprinted, 'G.W.G.', 1830.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.12526