- Museum number
- 1868,0808.8093
- Title
- Object: Bonaparte's bridge, to the Tune of, This is the House that Jack built
- Description
-
Eight designs in two rows, each with lines parodying 'the House that Jack built' etched above each. Some section of the bridge appears in Nos. 1-5. [1] Tiny French soldiers gallop across the bridge; a man punts in the rapidly flowing river. Behind is Leipzig, a walled town backed by hills. Above: "This is the Bridge that was blown into air." [2] Three men, wearing helmets and aprons, excavate a pit beside the bridge, from which a man looks down: "These are the Miners that had the care / Of mining the Bridge . . . [&c.]." [3] A Grenadier corporal holds a long match towards the covered pit; three tiny Grenadiers run across the bridge: "This is the Corporal, stout and strong, / Who fired the Mine with his match so long, / Which was made by the Miners . . . [&c.]." [4] A swaggering officer points at the ground, looking over his shoulder at the corporal, who runs forward with his match, saluting obsequiously: "This is the Colonel of Infantry, Who ordered the Corporal . . . [&c.]." [5] The colonel listens deferentially to an officer who whispers in his ear, pointing downwards: "This is the Marshal of high degree / Who whispered the Colonel.. .[&c.]." [6] Napoleon gallops from the battlefield, indicated by a drum in the foreground and bodies in the background: "This is the Emperor who scampered away, / And left the Marshal . . . [&c.]." [7] Refugees, including women with infants and an old farmer, make gestures of despair. Behind is the blazing town which more fugitives are leaving: "These are the Thousands who cursed the day, / Which made him Emperor ... [&c.]." [8] Four allied sovereigns in a tent consult over a map held between them. Alexander (left) sits on a camp-stool, the others stoop over the map: the King of Prussia is in back view, facing the Emperor of Austria. Bernadotte faces the Tsar: "These are the Monarchs so gen'rous and brave, / Who conquered the Tyrant, and Liberty gave, / To Thousands on Thousands . . . [&c.]."
Plate numbered 253.
1 December 1813
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1813
- Dimensions
-
Height: 227 millimetres
-
Width: 340 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', IX, 1949)
The verses (attributed to 'La Nourice . . .') are from the 'Morning Chronicle', 24 Nov. 1813 ('Spirit of the Public Journals, 1813', p. 332 f.) For Leipzig see No. 12093, &c. Its chief aspects in caricature are Napoleon's flight, cf. No. 12109, and the bridge; a corporal of engineers had been ordered to blow it up when the pursuers were at hand; he fired the mine before the rearguard had crossed [To Heaven is blown Bridge Lindenau; / Wrecked regiments reel therefrom; / And rank and file in masses plough / The sullen Elster-Strom. Hardy, 'Dynasts'.], owing to the skilful flanking movements of the light Russian troops under Sacken. Napoleon rode with the fugitives from the battlefield. J. H. Rose, 'Napoleon I', 1934, ii. 364 f. See also Nos. 12094, 12113, 12169, 12205 [3], 12229, 12479, 12569, 12602, 12608.
Broadley, i. 343 f. Van Stolk, No. 6195.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.8093
