"Napoleon, advancing down a gently sloping causeway of rock which traverses water and flames, is halted by 'Leo Britannicus' who bounds savagely towards him. He drops a short chain attached to the nose of the 'Russian Bear', a huge white creature at his heels. He is beset on all sides by monsters, who emerge from a background of flame, smoke, and cloud, or from the water. Beside the British Lion is a little 'Sicilian Terrier', barking ferociously. Death, a skeleton-like corpse, rides a mule which dashes through the air towards Napoleon, snorting flame. He wears a Spanish hat and cloak, and holds up a flaming spear and an hour-glass whose sands have almost run out. The mule's trappings are inscribed 'True-Royal-Spanish-Breed'. Outstripping the mule, a savage 'Portuguese Wolf', with the end of a broken chain attached to his collar, leaps towards Napoleon. The heads and hulders of two melancholy French officers with their necks chained together emerge from clouds to address Napoleon; they say: "Remember Junot and Remember Dupont." Above these is the Pope's tiara, the apex of flames, emitting thunderbolts towards Napoleon, and inscribed 'Dreadful Descent of ye Roman Meteor' [cf. BMSat 10970]. Immediately above Napoleon is a crescent moon inscribed 'British-influence' enclosing the old (dark) moon, which is 'French Influence'. This forms the centre of a turban, and is surrounded with fiery clouds flanking the features of the Sultan, looking fiercely down at Napoleon. Blood drips from it. This is 'The Turkish New-Moon, Rising in Blood'. Beside it (r.) the head and arms of a man raising an enormous sword above Napoleon emerge from swirling flames: The 'Spirit of Charles ye XII' [of Sweden 1682-1718]. On the r. a double-headed Habsburg eagle swoops towards Napoleon from clouds: "- The Imperial Eagle emerging from a Cloud." Its collar is inscribed 'German Eagle'. From the water beyond Napoleon's causeway, the 'Ditch of Styx', project the crown and hands of the drowning 'Rex Joseph'; he is immediately under the Spanish mule ridden by Death. The water on the nearer side of the causeway, in the foreground, is the 'Lethean Ditch'. From this (l.) rats crawl towards Napoleon: "The Rhenish Confederation of Starved Rats, crawling out of the Mud [cf. BMSat 10433]." Three frogs raise their heads from the ditch to spit: "Dutch-Frogs spitting out their spite." A rattle-snake spits venom, and shakes its tail: "- American Rattle-Snake shaking his Tail.-" On the r., standing on a rock, is a dilapidated eagle with clipped wings, and scanty feathers: "Prussian Scare-Crow attempting to Fly -.""--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Charles--XII,--King of Sweden,--1682-1718--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Joseph Bonaparte,--King of Spain,--1768-1844--Caricatures and cartoons., Mustafa--IV,--Sultan of the Turks,--1779-1808--Caricatures and cartoons., and Napoleon--I,--Emperor of the French,--1769-1821--Caricatures and cartoons.
In front of Humphrey's print shop window, a man sits on the pavement, having fallen backwards; his legs are splayed up, his wig is falling off, and coins spill from his pockets. The man's predicament is unobserved by four men studying the Gillray prints displayed in the shop window, each identifiable: a gentleman with a quizzing glass held to his eye; a military officer; a coachman; and a young dustman carrying a pair of skates under his arm, his nose eaten away by syphilis. From the cobblestone street a dog looks at the man. Through the shop door, two men, one an obese cleric, are shown examining a print.
Alternative Title:
St. James's Street
Description:
One of a set of seven weather-themed prints with the same signature and imprint, all etched by Gillray from drawings by Sneyd. See British Museum catalogue. and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
H. Humprey, No. 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., and Humphrey, Hannah,--active 1774-1817.
Subject (Topic):
City & town life., Clergy., Coach drivers. , Falling., Merchandise displays--England--London--1800-1810., Military officers--British., Older people. , People associated with commercial & service activities., Printing industry--England--London--1800-1810., Prints., Stores & shops., Syphilis., Thermometers., Weather., and Window displays.
"A thin, sharp-featured man walks in the teeth of the wind, holding on his hat, and with his left hand in his breeches pocket. His hat-brim, hair, cravat, coat, the tail of his shirt, the strings of his breeches and shoes, all fly backwards. He walks (right to left) up a rough sandy road edged by windswept bushes. A milestone is inscribed 'To Hampstead Hill'. On the horizon (right) is St. Paul's, dominating the spires of London, and backed by dense cloud."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
One of a set of seven weather-themed prints with the same signature and imprint, all etched by Gillray from drawings by Sneyd. See British Museum catalogue. and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
H. Humprey, No. 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., and Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher.
Attributed to Rowlandson in the Catalogue of books illustrated by Thomas Rowlandson., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., Plate sometimes included in the volume: Rowlandson, T. Miseries of human life. [London] : Published December 14, 1808, by R. Ackermann ..., [1808]. See Catalogue of books illustrated by Thomas Rowlandson., and Title devised by curator; alternative title from the Catalogue of books illustrated by Thomas Rowlandson.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership. and Harvey, Francis--Ownership.