Brooke, William Henry, 1772-1860, printmaker, artist
Published / Created:
[1 September 1813]
Call Number:
813.09.01.02
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
"Plate from the 'Satirist', xiii. 193. In the text the title continues '. . ., "alias" War'. A satire on the Congress of Prague. Four sovereigns, completely unlike the men in question, in conference. The Tsar sits behind a small rectangular table on which are displayed implements of war in miniature: cannon, pyramids of cannon-balls, muskets, swords, drums, &c., and flags on one of which are fleurs-de-lis. On the left stand the King of Prussia and the Emperor of Austria, on the right is Napoleon. Alexander extends his hands rhetorically, turning to the left, with a puckered scowl, to say to the two Germans: "Come Gentlemen see first if you can agree--if not we'll all fight!" He has quasi-Kalmuck features, and wears an odd-shaped crown, an ermine-bordered robe, with a jewelled necklace and a Greek cross. Frederick William III, on the extreme left, clutches the hilt of his sword and puts his left hand to his cocked hat as if ready to doff it, he turns to Francis I, towards whom a label issues from his mouth: "I am ready to treat or to fight"; a second label floats to the left, inscribed 'Infernal Scoundrel'. Francis I, looking distracted, stands directed to the right, legs apart, and in his left hand is his sabre, the blade of which curves over the Tsar's head, but both hands touch his crown, and he says: "I will wear an independant Crown." He wears hussar uniform, cloak, sash, and elaborately embroidered tunic and pantaloons. Napoleon, tall and burly, with heavy whisker and aquiline profile, wears a plumed bicorne with tricolour cockade and very tattered uniform leaving his legs almost bare, with one dilapidated jack-boot and one damaged stocking; he has a long sword. He stands aggressively with arms dramatically extended, saying, "My Friends! all we wish is Peace." A chain is attached to each great toe, which is fastened to the necks of two miserable princes, tiny figures standing between his outstretched legs. One (left), Charles IV of Spain, wearing a crown and robe, grotesquely knock-kneed and despairing, stands full-face. The other, wearing a crown with uniform and sword, stoops in profile, looking up abjectly at Napoleon's legs. On the extreme right, in the middle distance, is a tall Spanish don, much emaciated, wrapped in a cloak. He looks down with folded arms at a fat British officer beside him, who says: "I ll countenance Austria into our interests." The Spaniard: "I'll be damned if I go to meet a Frenchman in Prague, while there is a Frenchman to meet in Spain!!!" Behind them in the background a tiny Napoleon, wearing a grotesque crown and holding a sword, marches downhill at the head of his soldiers carrying flags; he has a melancholy expression and approaches the edge of a precipitous descent."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Satirist 1st September 1813
Description:
Title etched below image., Date of publication from text above image: Satirist 1st September 1813., and Plate from: The satirist, or, Monthly meteor, v. 13, page 193.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Name):
Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821, Alexander I, Emperor of Russia, 1777-1825, Frederick William III, King of Prussia, 1770-1840, Francis I, Emperor of Austria, 1768-1835, Charles IV, King of Spain, 1748-1819, and Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821.
Subject (Topic):
Heads of state, Summit meetings, Cannons, Flags, Military uniforms, Daggers & swords, Crowns, and Chains
"Louis XVIII, grotesquely obese (left), and the Tsar kiss, their lips touching. Louis, whose head is much the larger, grasps the back of Alexander's head; the Tsar bends from the waist to reach beyond the King's paunch. Louis, with the gouty legs and old-fashioned gold-embroidered coat and waistcoat of English caricature, wears the order of the Saint Esprit. The Tsar, in uniform, has the high pinched waist and bulging breast of the dandy (cf. British Museum Satires No. 13029) with enormous cavalry boots to the thigh, huge epaulets, and a sash, but no sword. He says: "My Dear Legitimate Brother (tho I believe I call Boney the same) I am happy to serve you tho your cursed Country Men almost destroyed my country--" Louis answers: "Ma Chere [sic] Ami, I am so rejoiced at your Brotherly Kindness in putting off our payment & takeing off your Troops that I could Devour you." The embrace is watched by two Frenchmen on the left, and on the right by the King of Prussia, the Emperor of Austria, and a young man (? Napoleon's son). Frederick William wears dandified uniform like that of the Tsar but with long trousers; he supports a large sword hanging from a belt, and holds a huge cocked hat; he watches the embrace with distaste, saying, "I am obliged to follow the Leaders at Present." Francis I says: "I must agree for the moment but I have a Grandson." One Frenchman wears uniform with top-boots; he says: "De Legitimate francais be too much for John Bull de manoeuvre by Gar ve want de Time & we show dem vat ve intend." His companion, an elderly man wearing a court suit with a powdered wig (Richelieu attended the Conference on behalf of France) says delightedly: "Ah-ha he do him vid Compliments & den we do them out of the Money." Behind them is a row of melancholy knock-kneed Grenadiers."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Political-dandies
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from the British Museum catalogue., and Sheet trimmed to plate mark on top edge.
Publisher:
Pub. Nov. 18, 1818, by S.W. Fores, 50 Piccadilli [sic] & 114 Oxford Street
Subject (Name):
Louis XVIII, King of France, 1755-1824, Alexander I, Emperor of Russia, 1777-1825, Frederick William III, King of Prussia, 1770-1840, Francis I, Emperor of Austria, 1768-1835, Bonaparte, François-Charles-Joseph, Herzog von Reichstadt, 1811-1832, and Richelieu, Armand-Emmanuel du Plessis, duc de, 1766-1822
Subject (Topic):
Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle, Heads of state, Kings, Summit meetings, Kissing, Obesity, and Dandies
