print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.8153
- Title
- Object: Need's must, when Wellington drive's or Louis's return!!
- Description
-
Napoleon (left) drags a bath chair in which Louis XVIII reclines, resting one swollen gouty leg on a cushion and holding a crutch. The chair is escorted by Wellington and Blücher. The former, raising a birch-rod and pointing to Louis, says menacingly to Napoleon: "I desire, you will Sing God save the King!!!" [cf. No. 12262]. Napoleon, holding a handkerchief to his eye and registering angry dismay, answers: "I'll be D—d if I do!!" He is emaciated and ragged, wearing uniform without hat, sword, or spurs. Blücher walks behind the chair (right) holding his sword against his shoulder. He extends his right arm towards Napoleon, saying, "You'l be d—d, wither you do, or do not!!" He and Wellington wear uniform with cocked hats. The chair is patterned with gold fleurs-de-lis. The scene is a country road, with a castle (left) in the background.
May 1814
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1814
- Dimensions
-
Height: 243 millimetres
-
Width: 347 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', IX, 1949)
Wellington entered Toulouse on 12 Apr., the town hoisting the white flag; later in the day he received news of Napoleon's abdication. On 24 Apr. Louis reached Calais, on 3 May he entered Paris. For his return see also Nos. 12242, 12265, 12268.
Listed by Broadley. Reproduced, Grand-Carteret, 'Napoléon', No. 309.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.8153
