"Bonaparte (left) and Cornwallis play chess. Bonaparte, not caricatured, alert and military, wearing his large plumed cocked hat, leans forward, pointing to his move; his left arm lies on the table and in his left hand is his sheathed sabre. He says: "Check to your King, remember it is not the first time, and I think a very few Manoeuvres more will completely convince you that I am better acquainted with the Game I am playing than you are aware of." Cornwallis, plump and civilian despite his regimentals and profession, sits without a hat, scratching his head apprehensively. He says: "Curse it I shall lose this Game; You are too much for me." He wears his ribbon and star, 'Honi soit' on his garter. The chairs are symbolical: that of Bonaparte has ormolu laurel wreaths, the legs are formed of fasces and axes; that of Cornwallis, with plain oval back, suggests an English drawing-room."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched at bottom of image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., Printseller's announcement below imprint: Folios of caracatures [sic] lent out for the evening., Watermark: Budgen 1799., and Early gilt paper strips pasted to margins as a mount.
Publisher:
Pubd. Jany. 9th, 1802, by S.W. Fores, 50 Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821, and Cornwallis, Charles Cornwallis, Marquis, 1738-1805
Subject (Topic):
Generals, French, English, Chess, Daggers & swords, and Hats
