print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.7008
- Title
- Object: The national institute's first interview with their president
- Description
-
Napoleon seated on a dais under a canopy, but on a small chair, graciously receives five Englishmen, saying, "Gentlemen you are welcome, and I invite you to the Honors of the Sitting." They are headed by Sheridan, who kneels on one knee, holding out a medicine phial and pillbox; he says: "Be pleased to accept some true Poetic Tincture, and a small Box of Pizarro Pills." Next comes Fox, a bag under his arm, saying, "I have brought a pound and a half of Patriotism for your eminence." Horne Tooke follows, saying, "My New Work will make my Fortune"; under his arm is a large volume: 'New Botheration Dictionary'. Walking together at the end of the file (left) are Burdett, holding a small phial, and Bedford. They say: "I have brought him a Phial of Genuine Bastile Balsam", and "He'll not be displeased with a few Bedford Biscuits." Napoleon, not caricatured, wears a large laced cocked hat, military tunic with sash, and boots. c. November 1802
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1802
- Dimensions
-
Height: 255 millimetres
-
Width: 350 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VIII, 1947)
After the signing of the Preliminaries English visitors flocked to Paris; for Fox's visit see BMSat 9892, &c.; Laplace and others planned his election to the Institut. See Airlie, 'In Whig Society', 1921, p. 49. Burdett went, but refused an introduction to Napoleon on account of Brumaire. Patterson, 'Burdett and his Times', i. 104 f. For the 'Bastile' (Cold Bath Prison) see BMSat 9878, &c. For Sneridan and Pizarro see BMSats 9396, &c, 10088. Horne Tooke's book is 'The Diversions of Purley', see BMSats 9020, 10976.
Broadley, i. 157.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.7008
