Three grotesque French officers forceably recruit a gang of emaciated, terrified-looking Frenchman. Of the several men who have been thrown over the back of a horse, one has had a pole thrust into his posterior; at the top of the pole is a liberty cap. The wife and children of one man who has been tied to the back of the horse, cling in desperation to his ragged clothes, as they are dragged along behind him
Description:
Title from item., Publication year possibly an engraver's error for 1793 as the Republic was not proclaimed until 22 September 1792 and while the first execution by guillotine took place in April 1792, it was, early on, called La Louisette. See C.D. Hazen's French Revolution (1932), i., page 384 and British Museum catalogue v. 6, no. 7853., Publisher's advertisement following imprint: where may be seen a compleate model of the guilotine [sic], also the largest collection of caracaturs [sic] in the Kingdm., the head & hand of Count Streuenzee, &c. Admit. 1., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Watermark: F & P.
Publisher:
Pub. May 7, 1791, by S.W. Fores, No. 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Geographic):
France
Subject (Topic):
History, Foreign public opinion, British, Guillotines (Punishment), Liberty cap, and Starvation
"Five British sailors make a furious attack on six French soldiers, grotesque and terrified creatures, whom the sailors humiliate and insult. Their officer (left), who holds a British flag, is threatened by a sailor with clenched fists, and excretes, terrified. A sailor with a scourge slashes the bared posteriors of a Frenchman who grovels on the ground, saying, "oh le pauvre Commandant"; he says, "Now foutre you'l take 2 Merchants Ships for a fleet of Men of War again". A Frenchman, nearly throttled by an angry sailor, cries "Ca-ira Ca-ira". A sailor pulls the queue of the drummer, to whom he offers a piece of tobacco, saying, "here you B--g--r heres a stale Quid for you Instead of Hartshorn". A sailor on the extreme right pulls the queue of a Frenchman and raises his club to strike; the latter says, "oh Diable we was Make de Dam Mistake Parblue". The sailor answers, "aye aye D------n Your Eyes Ill make you Blue and Black too". In the background (left) are buildings inscribed 'Nantes'."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Vision interpreted
Description:
Title etched below image., A satire about an incident at Nantes, 29 June 1791., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Watermark.
Publisher:
Pub. July 15, 1791, by S. Fores, N. 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Geographic):
Nantes (France), France, Great Britain., Great Britain, and France.
Subject (Topic):
History, Relations, Arms & armament, Defecation, Drums (Musical instruments), Fighting, Flags, British, National emblems, Rifles, Sailors, French, and Whips
