print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.8123
- Title
- Object: Enigmatical design of the situation of Buonaparte in March and April 1814.
- Description
-
A leopard stands directed to the right in an oddly drawn pit; it turns its head to snarl at a Cossack who stands on the side of the pit, in the upper left corner of the design, with his spear poised for a thrust; a fore-paw is raised towards two soldiers who are about to strike him down from the right. One, resembling Blücher, raises his sword, while an Austrian, a Tyrolean in shako and trousers, aims his musket. At the animal's feet are bones, with a horse's skull (left), and a human skull (right).
In the centre of the design is the mouth of the cave, its contour forming a profile of Napoleon, which faces the upper edge of the design and which, though large and striking, is not at once apparent. The nostril and mouth are formed by the wings and head of a (Prussian) eagle, head downwards, beside Blücher's arm, towards which the eye is directed. Across the face from forehead to chin extend the spires and buildings of 'Paris'. Foliage curving round the edge of the pit forms the hair and the back of the head. Below the design: 'Psalm 7. V. 15. 17' ('He made a pit, . . . and is fallen into the ditch which he made . . .'). 'Isah 14. V. 13. 20.' ('. . . Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; . . .'.) See No. 12214, &c.
8 April 1814
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1814
- Dimensions
-
Height: 245 millimetres
-
Width: 347 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', IX, 1949)
This is a copy of a German print.
(Additional remark) Placed with this is an unregistered letterpress titlepage to 'A Collection of Caricatures designed and engraved by Rowlandson, Bunbury &c. Published by Thos Palser, Surrey Side of Westminster Bridge. 1812. T.Romney, Printer, Bridge Road, Lambeth'
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.8123
