print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1935,0522.12.44
- Title
- Object: The ghosts of the old kings of Spain appearing to their degenerate posterity
- Description
-
The wretched Spanish Bourbons, with Godoy, grovel on the ground. From the head of Charles IV, who looks up in terror at the crowned ghost who stands over him, Napoleon (right) takes the crown, saying, "Dont be alarmed my good Friend, I'll take care of your Crown, it can't be in better hands, I think it will fit Brother Joey!" The ancestor, who stands menacingly above him, declaims: "Disgrace to your Ancestors, tremble for Vengeance will overtake you!" Charles IV, heedless of Napoleon, looks up at the ghost, exclaiming: "O don't look so frowningly at a poor miserable Old King." On the left. Godoy buries his head in the lap of the kneeling and distraught Queen. In his pocket is a paper: 'Correspondence between Godoy & Boneypart'; under his foot is a paper addressed 'to the Prince of Peace'. He cowers away from Ferdinand who bends over him, shrinking in terror from an avenging ancestor (left) who says: "Remember you are a Prince." Ferdinand answers, pointing to Godoy: "Here is the cause of our disgrace." The third ancestor extends his hands with a gesture of contemptuous despair over the Queen who covers her face with her hand. A fourth ancestor approaches from the left. All four are stalwart crowned figures, wearing the order of the Golden Fleece and a star. They stand among clouds, and rays descend towards them from the left. On the extreme right behind Napoleon, is John Bull, holding a cudgel; he says: "Stop my little Gentleman, you'll find there is a person call'd Ferdinand it will fit much better than Joey."
July 1808
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1808
- Dimensions
-
Height: 241 millimetres
-
Width: 342 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VIII, 1947)
A good illustration of the disgraceful quarrels between Ferdinand and his parents, their abject behaviour to Napoleon, and the part taken by Godoy. See BMSat 10996, &c.
Listed by Broadley.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1935
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1935,0522.12.44