"Napoleon (right) stands between two Russians; one (left) he strikes on the chin with his fist, saying, "There Sir take that, and tel your Master, I'll thras every one who dares to speak to me I'll thrash all the World D -me I'll, I'll I,'ll be King of the Universe." The injured Russian stares, saying, "Why this is club Law; this is the Argument of force indeed the little Gentleman is Dêrangé." Behind Napoleon (right) an officer in fur cloak and hussar's cap watches with indignation, saying, "The Monarch I represent, will return this insult with becoming dignity." On the left John Bull, jovial and grossly fat, and wearing top-boots, puts his arm across the shoulders of a pugilist, and points to Napoleon, saying, "There my Boy is an Ambassador who will treat with you in your own way, but I say be as gentle with him as you can." The good-looking brawny pugilist, who is stripped to the waist, clenches his fists, saying, "what! is it that little Whipper snapper I am to set too with why I think the first round will settle his hash." [An early use of this phrase which disproves Partridge, 'Slang Dict., tracing it in England to 1825, and in U.S.A. to 1807, suggesting that the English may have learnt it in the war of 1812. It was clearly current in England by 1803] Bonaparte is small and youthful, caricatured chiefly by the disproportionate size of cocked hat and sabre."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
John Bull introducing his new ambassador to the Grand Consul
Description:
Title etched below image. and Laid down on modern paper backing and matted to 36 x 46 cm.
Publisher:
Pub. by S.W. Fores, N. 50 Piccadilly, London
Subject (Geographic):
France, Russia., Russia, and France.
Subject (Name):
Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821, Alexander I, Emperor of Russia, 1777-1825, and Markov, Arkady Ivanovich, 1747-1827
Subject (Topic):
Foreign relations, John Bull (Symbolic character), Boxers (Sports), and Insults
"Catherine II, seated on the throne, eagerly receives the heads of Poles offered to her by a ferocious-looking officer. Three attendants advance behind him with baskets filled with heads of young women and children; the foremost kneels, holding out his basket, the next carries a basket on his shoulders; above it flies a demon. On the extreme right, on a pedestal, is the bust of Fox by Nollekens (see BMSat 7902), looking wryly over his right shoulder at the Empress. The officer, Suvóroff, holds out by the hair to the Empress three heads, one of which she touches with a finger. His sleeves are rolled up; in his left hand is a bunch of heads, under his left arm a long bloody sword and a document: 'Articles of Capitulation Warsaw'. On his short top-boots are enormous spurs. He says: "Thus my Royal Mistress have I fulfilled in the fullest extent your Tender Affectionate & Maternal Commission to those Deluded People of Poland, & have brought you the Pickings of Ten Thousand Heads tenderly detached from their deluded bodies the Day after Capitulation." The Empress answers: "My Dear General you have well Executed your Commission; but could not you prevail on any of the Polish Women to Poison their Husbands?" (An allusion to the murder of Peter III, cf. BMSat 8072.) To the demon she says: "Go my little Ariel & prepare our Altars for these pretty Sacrifices, we must have te Deum on the Occasion." The demon, a nude bat-winged creature, says: "Bravo this outdoes the Poison Scene." The Empress wears ermine-trimmed robes and holds a sceptre, but does not (as usual) wear a crown. Beside her (left) lies a bear, only the head and forepaws being visible."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Earlier state before addition of letter 's' in 'heads' in Suvorov's speech balloon., Earlier state. Cf. No. 8607 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 7., and Temporary local subject terms: Reference to the Battle of Warsaw, November 1794.
Publisher:
Pub. January 7, 1795, by S.W. Fores, N. 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Geographic):
Praga (Warsaw, Poland) and Russia
Subject (Name):
Catherine II, Empress of Russia, 1729-1796, Suvorov, Aleksandr Vasilʹevich, kni︠a︡zʹ Italiĭskiĭ, 1730-1800, and Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806
"Catherine II, seated on the throne, eagerly receives the heads of Poles offered to her by a ferocious-looking officer. Three attendants advance behind him with baskets filled with heads of young women and children; the foremost kneels, holding out his basket, the next carries a basket on his shoulders; above it flies a demon. On the extreme right, on a pedestal, is the bust of Fox by Nollekens (see BMSat 7902), looking wryly over his right shoulder at the Empress. The officer, Suvóroff, holds out by the hair to the Empress three heads, one of which she touches with a finger. His sleeves are rolled up; in his left hand is a bunch of heads, under his left arm a long bloody sword and a document: 'Articles of Capitulation Warsaw'. On his short top-boots are enormous spurs. He says: "Thus my Royal Mistress have I fulfilled in the fullest extent your Tender Affectionate & Maternal Commission to those Deluded People of Poland, & have brought you the Pickings of Ten Thousand Heads tenderly detached from their deluded bodies the Day after Capitulation." The Empress answers: "My Dear General you have well Executed your Commission; but could not you prevail on any of the Polish Women to Poison their Husbands?" (An allusion to the murder of Peter III, cf. BMSat 8072.) To the demon she says: "Go my little Ariel & prepare our Altars for these pretty Sacrifices, we must have te Deum on the Occasion." The demon, a nude bat-winged creature, says: "Bravo this outdoes the Poison Scene." The Empress wears ermine-trimmed robes and holds a sceptre, but does not (as usual) wear a crown. Beside her (left) lies a bear, only the head and forepaws being visible."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed to plate mark on three sides., Later state with addition of letter 's' in 'heads' in Suvorov's speech balloon., Temporary local subject terms: Reference to the Battle of Warsaw, November 1794., Matted to 47 x 63 cm.; printmaker's and subjects' names printed on mat below image., and Printseller's stamp in lower right corner: S.W.F.
Publisher:
Pub. January 7, 1795, by S.W. Fores, N. 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Geographic):
Praga (Warsaw, Poland) and Russia
Subject (Name):
Catherine II, Empress of Russia, 1729-1796, Suvorov, Aleksandr Vasilʹevich, kni︠a︡zʹ Italiĭskiĭ, 1730-1800, and Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806
