print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.6080
- Title
- Object: An Escape a la Francois!
- Description
-
A burlesque representation of the flight to Varennes; the royal family in a two-wheeled carriage drawn (left to right) by four galloping horses with two postilions. In front of the procession the Pope rides a bull whose head is cut off by the right margin; he is bare-legged, his triple crown is shaped like a conical cap, and he holds a crazier to which two keys are attached. He looks round with a grin, saying, "The true Church never fail'd her Votaries". Behind him runs a fat monk carrying the Devil on his shoulders, and saying "A ça ira! ça ira! ça ira! diddle diddle di diddle de diddle de dee - Begar dis Friend of of [sic] mine is a damned load". lhe Devil, a solid creature with wings, horns, talons and hoofs, says, pointing to the Pope, "O never fear that - here is Absolution."
On the extreme left Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette sit side by side under the hood of the carriage. He says, "Ma Chère Amie, Le Diable what will become of My Oath?" The Queen turns her head away; both look complacent. In the back of the carriage the heads of the two children are seen through a side window: the little Dauphin says, "Vive Le Roi"; his elder sister says, "Vive La Liberte!" The two postilions have the accustomed long queues and milk-churn boots, with ruffled shirts. The one on the off leader lashes his horse, saying, "Allé, Allé, Allé old Aristocrat". In the background, on a hill, is a crucifix; a small figure kneels before it. Across the sky is etched: 'Scruples of Conscience relieved and the Bye-Ways to Canaan pointed out by the Devil and the Pope'. Beneath the design is etched:
'Lo, here is the King of France, a
Going to lead a War Dance a
La la la lala
He thinks his troubles past a
But he'll be taken at last a
La la la lala.' 1 July 1791
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1791
- Dimensions
-
Height: 285 millimetres
-
Width: 730 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VI, 1938)
For the flight and recapture see BMSat 7882, &c.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated events
- Associated Event: French Revolution 1789-1799
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.6080