Général sans pareil[1815]fre"A French 'hieroglyphic portrait' of Napoleon (whole length), probably deriving from No. 12177. ... The arms are not folded as in that print, and in the right hand a noose is held out: 'Lacet pour Pichegrue'. The left forefinger, inscribed 'Moreau', and the thumb, inscribed 'Pichegrue', are extended in a significant gesture. The face, in profile to the left, is without symbols or inscriptions; the hat is covered with crowns, the papal tiara being prominent. Above: 'Chapeau chargé de Couronnes'. On the front of the coat from the neck downwards are inscriptions: 'Evacuation de l'Egypte' [see No. 9523], 'Malte' [see No. 9700], 'Portugale', 'Espagne', 'Bateaux plats' [cf. No. 9995], 'Russie', 'Pologne', 'Prusse', 'Saxe', 'Westphalie', 'Hollande'. On the arm two tiny soldiers fire at the kneeling 'Duc d'Enghin' [sic], and Napoleon, enthroned, gives orders to a file of three subservient officials: 'Commission Militaires et Tribunaux recevant les Ordres'. On the coat from the waist downwards are the inscriptions: '13 Vendémiaire' [5 Oct. 1795], 'Journée de St Cloud' [Brumaire, 10 Nov. 1799, see No. 9426, &c.], 'Guerre éternelle à l'Angleterre', 'Désolation de l'Allemagne', 'Inquiétude en Italie', 'Trahison sur la Famille d'Espagne' [see No. 10990, &c.], 'Détronisation du Roi des Asturies', 'Violation des Etats Romains' [see No. 11360, &c.]. On the waistcoat are five kings (half length), crowned and holding sceptres: 'Fabrique de Sire' [cire]. Above these is an ape: 'la Folie'. On the right thigh, of which only a small part is visible, statues and busts are depicted. The most conspicuous is the Apollo Belvedere. These are: 'Objets d'Arts Pillés chez les différentes Nations'. On the left thigh are objects relating to the Continental System: a cask, bales inscribed 'Magasin de denrées', a larger cask filled with sugar-loaves, more bales inscribed 'Coloniales', and a pile of beetroots: 'Sucre de Beterave' [see No. 12316]. Over the boot-top hangs a row of tabs, inscribed: 'Billets de / Banque. / Ventes des biens / Communaux / Cautionnement / Arrierés'. The boot-top is 'Chute du Trône de France et d'Italie'. The boots are covered with skulls and bones inscribed 'Conscription [see No. 12087, &c.] et Levée en Masse' [see No. 12201]. The spur is a serpent spitting out the words: 'Eguillonant son système de destruction'. From the coat-tail pocket project rolled documents, torn, and inscribed: 'Décrets Violés depuis la Journée de St Cloud Jusque au Jour de sa déchéance'. The sword has a star below the hilt, and a wavy blade inscribed 'Comete'."--British Museum online catalogueTitle etched below image."It is based on the whole length profile portrait by Dähling (reproduced Dayot, 'Napoléon', p. 204)"-- British Museum catalogue."Grand-Carteret, 'Napoléon', p. 181, attributes it to a French artist living in London, though in 'Allemagne', p. 76, he had (like Hagen) attributed it to Voltz"--British Museum catalogue.Date of publication from the British Museum online catalogue.Sheet trimmed within plate mark.