Bonaparte adressing the legislative body [graphic]

"Napoleon stands, colossus-like, legs apart, his head turned in profile to the right, looking down with an expression of despair. He is on a high dais beside his throne (right), and turns his back on the crowded hall. He wears a crown and imperial robe over ragged uniform. A tattered sleeve leaves his right forearm and elbow bare; his legs are naked between tattered remnants of breeches and spurred boots through which his toes project. He weeps, with a handkerchief to his eye, and his right hand touching the star on his breast. Behind him (left) is a sea of heads receding in perspective; these are burlesqued, with expressions registering dismay, cynicism, or sly satisfaction. Among them are three bishops wearing mitres. At the back of the hall is a gallery filled with heads on a tiny scale, feathered head-dresses show them to be ladies. Napoleon's words fill a large label covering the upper part of the design: "I myself entered Russia, the Russian armies could not stand before our armies. The French arms were constantly victorious.---- ------"a swarm of Tartars turned their ---- parricidal hands against the finest provinces of that vast Empire which they had been called to defend.---- "But the excessive and premature rigour of the winter brought down a heavy calamity upon my army---- in a few nights I saw every thing change.---- "the misfortunes produced by rigour of hoar frosts, have been made apparent in all their extent, ---- I experienced great losses--they would have broken my heart, if under such circumstances I could have been accessible to any other sentiments than those of the interest,--the glory,--and the future prosperity of my people.-- "I have signed with the Pope a Concordat, which terminates all the diffirences [sic] that unfortunately had arisen in the Church.--The French dynasty--reigns,-- and will reign in Spain.--I am satisfied with all my allies.--I will abandon none of them.--The Russians shall return into their frightful climate [cf. British Museum Satires Nos. 12022, 12024, 13487]."--British Museum online catalogue