Siege de la Colonne de Pompée Science in the pillory / [graphic]
Found In:
Lewis Walpole Library > Siege de la Colonne de Pompée Science in the pillory / [graphic]
Description
- Title
- Siege de la Colonne de Pompée Science in the pillory / [graphic]
- Alternative Title
- Science in the pillory
- Creator
- Gillray, James, 1756-1815, printmaker
- Contributor
- Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher.
- Published / Created
- [6 March 1799]
- Publication Place
- London
- Publisher
- Publish'd March 6th, 1799, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street
- Abstract
-
"Turks and Bedouins besiege the base of a tall Corinthian column, on which is a group of terrified French savants. They have lit a fire at the base of the column whose smoke ascends in an expanding cloud; other Arabs advance with sheaves of reeds to feed the flames. On the small platform eight Frenchmen are crowded together; one, with wings attached to his shoulders and arms, steps into the void, stretching out his arms to a balloon, already wrecked by musket-fire. Their commander (probably Bonaparte), who wears a large plumed cocked hat and an order, shouts to the besiegers, holding up a placard 'Vive Mahomet Qui protegoit les Sciences'. A man kneeling beside him clasps him in terror; from his pocket issues a paper: 'Projet pour Bruler la Mecque'. A stout man (left) is about to hurl down a (? celestial) globe and a scientific instrument; another prepares to fling a large book: 'Le Ciel Revolutionné ou les Constellations Sans-culottisés'. A lean fanatic is about to commit suicide: he holds up a bottle labelled 'Tone', and clasps another labelled 'Louvet Opium'; in his belt are weapons inscribed 'Romme' and 'Roland' (all of whom but (?) Louvet killed themselves). A terrified face bites a book inscribed 'Savary'. A thin scholar (right) wearing a skull-cap is perhaps Monge. A ninth man falls from the summit (left); from his pocket issues a paper: 'Projet pour rendre les Hommes Immortels'. A stork (left) flies upwards from the column. Two scientific instruments (one electric) and six books fall from the column: 'Ebauche d'un Systeme de Législation pour une Colonie d Anthropophages' [cf. BMSat 9356]; 'Traité sur la Guillotine par un Théophilanthrope'; 'Sur le Reedification de la Tour de Babel'; 'Encyclopédie Edit: de Paris Vol: LX.'; 'Tableau de Logarithms'. The lowest, 'Projet de Fraternisation avec les Bedouins', hits a Bedouin and strikes him to the ground. On the ground is 'Le Contrat Social'. The besiegers fire at the Frenchmen or hold up their spears waiting for them to fall. One fires at an exploding balloon (right), 'La Diligence d'Abissynie' (cf. BMSat 9403), from which the (tricolour) boat has already fallen. One of the occupants falls head first towards the spears below; another descends by a parachute which has been traversed by the shot at the balloon; he is about to be transfixed by an arrow. Falling books are 'Les Ruines par le Cit: Volney'; 'Traité sur la Velocité des Corps Descendans'; and 'Theorie de l'Aerostation'. In the foreground right two fat Turks sit impassively back to back on a camel which gazes upwards; they are confident and incurious; one smokes reflectively. Arabs and Africans are in violent motion, some firing, others with spears. Behind (left) men gallop up on asses. A man (left) looks up through the wrong end of a telescope. In the background are pyramids. ..."--British Museum online catalogue
- Description
-
Title from item, in French and English.
Twelve lines of text in two columns, followed by twelve lines of verse in two columns, etched below title: It appears by an intercepted letter from General Kleber, dated "Alexandria, 5 Frimaire, 7th year of the Republic" ...
Matted to 72 x 57 cm. - Provenance
- Alfred Bowditch Collection ; Dec. 1966 ;
- Extent
- 1 print : plate mark 54.3 x 41.5 cm, on sheet 55 x 44 cm
- Language
-
English
Collection Information
- Repository
- Lewis Walpole Library
- Call Number
- 799.03.06.01++
Subjects, Formats, And Genres
- Genre
-
Satires (Visual works) England 1799
Etchings England London 1799
Watermarks (Paper) J. Whatman 1817 - Material
- etching ; and wove paper hand-colored.
- Resource Type
- still image
- Subjects
-
England > 1799
England > London > 1799
J. Whatman > 1817
Riviere & Son > Binding
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley > Ownership
Harvey, Francis > Ownership
Access And Usage Rights
- Access
- Public
- Rights
- The use of this image may be subject to the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) or to site license or other rights management terms and conditions. The person using the image is liable for any infringement.
Identifiers
- Orbis Record
- 9053603
- Object ID (OID)
- 10941322