"A monster, representing Austria, puts to flight a disorderly rabble of French soldiers who fall over each other in their haste. He has enormous legs which are joined to his shoulders, probably to indicate that he is 'nobody' (cf. BMSat 5570); his head consists of a large military cap, decorated with the Habsburg eagle, from which issue enormous moustaches and two puffs of smoke (from simulated nostrils); he smokes a large curved metal pipe, and from his supposed mouth issues a blast of smoke directed against the French troops. His legs are arrogantly astride, his arms akimbo, he wears a huge sabre and spurred jack-boots. The French soldiers in the foreground are ragged and ill-armed, one holds a pitchfork, those behind have muskets. One holds up a tricolour flag inscribed 'Liberta[s]' and cries "La LiberteĢ! La LiberteĢ - de s'enfuir". In the upper left corner of the design is etched: '"While loyal honour warm'd a Fr'enchmans breast, "The field of Battle was a glorious test; "Nobly ambitious for his King to fight, "To die or conquer was a Soldiers Right. "A strange reverse the Democrats display, "And prove the "Right of Man" - to run away -'."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet partially trimmed within plate mark., and Temporary local subject terms: Wars: Austro-French War, 1792-1797 -- Battles: flight from the Battle of Tournay, 1792 -- Symbols: figure of Austria -- Bugaboos -- Emblems: Austrian two-headed eagle -- Nobodies -- French soldiers -- Smoking: pipes -- Military uniforms: Austrian soldier's uniform -- Tools: pitchfork -- Allusion to Paine's Rights of Man -- Funk -- Weapons: sabre -- Knives -- Guns.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 12th, 1792, by H. Humphrey, No. 18 Old Bond Street
