The sudden entrance, through the window, of Napoleon Bonaparte startles tailors assembled in their shop, i.e., the European rulers at the Congress of Vienna, busy "cutting out" portions of Europe for themselves. With a blood-dripping sabre in his hand, Bonaparte declares his readiness to join them in this activity. To his left, a startled King of Holland moves toward the Austrian Emperor, shown with a pair of small scissors and an iron in his hands, who is Napoleon's father-in-law and whom the deposed French Emperor asks, "Where is my wife and son, father Francis?" Beside Francis I, the Russian Emperor stands on a large piece of cloth lined with "Polish fur," raising in his left hand a knot made out of the measuring tape. On the opposite side of the workbench, a fierce-looking Prussian general Blücher threatens Napoleon with huge shears. Behind him, the King of Prussia, sitting cross-legged, continues sewing a piece of cloth signed, "Pattern of an Emperors Robe." To his right stands Napoleon's former marshal, Bernadotte, now allied against him as the Crown Prince of Sweden. In the middle of the room, a frightened and helpless-looking King of France lies flat on the floor, consoled by John Bull, with a large club, who promises to sew up "that rascal Boney." Behind John Bull, a terrified Pope scrambles away for the safety, his tiara and cross fallen to the ground. On the other side of Louis XVIII, the French negotiator at the Congress, Talleyrand, attempts to hide under the tailors' bench
Alternative Title:
Devil among the tailors
Description:
Title from caption below image., Artist from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Mounted to 29 x 44 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd April 21st, 1815 by H. Humphrey, St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821., Louis XVIII, King of France, 1755-1824., Francis I, Emperor of Austria, 1768-1835., Alexander I, Emperor of Russia, 1777-1825., William I, King of the Netherlands, 1772-1843., Frederick William III, King of Prussia, 1770-1840., Pius VII, Pope, 1742-1823., Charles XIV John, King of Sweden and Norway, 1763-1844., Blücher, Gebhard Leberecht von, 1742-1819., and Talleyrand-Périgord, Charles Maurice de, prince de Bénévent, 1754-1838
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Congress of Vienna, Tailor shops, Clothing and dress, Scissors & shears, Hats, and Crowns
