- Museum number
- J,3.83
- Title
- Object: A stoppage to a stride over the globe
- Description
-
Napoleon bestraddles the globe, seated at the Pole, about half of it being between his legs; countries are marked, but without regard to geography. A little figure looks from behind the globe (right) below the conqueror's left toe; his left hand is placed on 'Old England', and he raises a sabre menacingly. Napoleon, a fine figure, wearing an enormous cocked hat, a sabre in his right hand, looks down at the little man, his left arm extended; he says: "Ah, who is it dares interupt me in my Progress." The little fellow answers: "Why 'tis I little Johnny Bull Protecting a little spot I clap my hand on, and d-n. me if you come any Farther that's all." He is a 'cit' with an ill-fitting wig. 'France' lies between 'Switzerland', on which Napoleon's right foot rests, and 'Itali' [north of 'England'], on which is his left leg. 16 April 1803 [So dated by Broadley, apparently by analogy with BMSat 9980; perhaps later.]
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1803
- Dimensions
-
Height: 347 millimetres
-
Width: 245 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VIII, 1947)
In spring 1803 prints were issued on Napoleon's designs of conquest, see BMSat 9898, &c, being stopped by John Bull, showing the reaction to French aggression, see BMSat 9977, &c. For the stride cf. BMSats 7843, 10040, and vol. ix. This print derives from, or is the origin of, verses, 'Stop to a Stride', 'Gent. Mag.' (Nov.), 1803, ii. 1060. The first of four verses:
'Bonaparte, the Corsican, to gain a Consul's robe, sir,
Was by Ambition strongly urg'd to stride across the globe, sir:
He strode o'er France, he threw his leg o'er Switzerland and Italy;
And a tidy spot then caught his eye, a Paradise it seem'd to be:
It was that garden England call'd he threaten'd soon to land on,
A little fruitful spot of ground John Bull had clapp'd his hand on.'
Reissued by Blacklock, May 1806, and by Tegg, 1 Jan. 1807.
Broadley, i. 161. Van Stolk, No. 5982 b (vii. 355). Reproduced, Wheeler and Broadley, ii. 326.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1818
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- J,3.83
