drawing;
print study
- Museum number
- 1948,1009.121
- Description
-
The Austrian Emperor drinking the blood of his people. 1848-49
Graphite
- Production date
- 1848-1849
- Dimensions
-
Height: 287 millimetres
-
Width: 401 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- One of a collection of 106 drawings (1948,1009.20-125), related to the Roman satirical journal "Il Don Pirlone".
For more information see curator's introductory commentary under 1948,1009.20.
Included in the volume held in Cambridge University Library, which binds together the 234 issues of "Il Don Pirlone", is a manuscript list of the illustrations and their titles. The present drawing is related to the issue of Monday 12 February 1849, no. 131 and its title reads as follows: "L'Imperator d'Austria beve il sangue dei sudditi. Radetzkij li tiene / l'imbuto, Weld[en] la mastella" [The Austrian Emperor drinks the blood of his people. Radetzky holds the funnel, Welden the tub]. The caption on the drawing translates: "Ah, how delicious!". In the journal issue Don Pirlone warns the Emperor that he will realise what excruciating pains this blood is going to give him when his day will come, a day already written in the triumph of the Republics.
No manuscript note survives for this drawing.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated titles
Associated Title: Don Pirlone
- Acquisition date
- 1948
- Acquisition notes
- This item has an uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933-45. The British Museum welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.
An inscription by Smith on the front page, connecting the drawings with 'Don Pirlone'.
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1948,1009.121