print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 2012,7029.3
- Title
- Object: Il a des rats plein sa cervelle, plein sa gamache et plein ses bas; il jette à ses pieds ce qu'il tenait dans ses mains
- Description
-
A satire on Louis XVI showing the French King standing full-length, wearing red jacket and breeches, looking to the left as on the right the young Dauphin dressed in green helps him carring his sceptre; rats, symbols of the King's whims, and flying insects, are seen fleeing his head, which is surmounted by a weather vane; his crown lies discarded at his feet
Hand-colour etching
- Production date
- 1789-1792 (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 310 millimetres
-
Width: 196 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- 'Avoir des rats' (litterally, 'having rats') means being governed by caprice. The rats and the weather vane convey Louis XVI's indecisiveness which played a part in the build-up to and during the early years of the French Revolution. The discarded crown and the caption, which states that he threw away what he was holding firm in his hands, imply he himself is to blame for his situation.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
2013, May-Sept, BM, 'Recent Acquisitions' (no cat.)
- Associated events
- Associated Event: French Revolution 1789
- Acquisition date
- 2012
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 2012,7029.3