In a series of three images Napoleon Bonaparte is first shown on the left as Emperor wearing royal regalia, with other crowns and pharaoh's insignia at his feet, the Tuilleries Palace behind him, signed "What I was," below and "A cruel tyrant" above. In the second image his weeping figure in military uniform is shown on the tiny island of Elba, and is signed "What I am," below and "A snivelling wretch" above. Lastly, on the right, his corpse hangs from a gibbet, his hat fallen to the ground and ass's ears exposed on his head, with caption "What I ought to be" below and "Hung for a fool" above.
Alternative Title:
What I was, what I am, what I ought to be
Description:
Title etched at bottom of plate.
Publisher:
R. Ackermann, 101 Strand
Subject (Name):
Ackermann, Rudolph, 1764-1834, publisher., Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., and Napoleon--I,--Emperor of the French,--1769-1821--Caricatures and cartoons.
Subject (Topic):
Crowns. , Gallows., Military uniforms--French--19th century., and Scepters.
"Scene in an English court of law. The judge, Blücher, wearing a legal wig with regimentals, stands up with left arm extended, addressing Napoleon, who crouches in the dock (right), handkerchief in hand, pleading for mercy. Beside the judge are the sovereigns of Europe, two on his right, three on his left, all gazing at the prisoner. In the well of the court aged and grotesque counsel, typical of Rowlandson's lawyers, surround the green-covered table. The jury (left) have stupid, morose, or astonished expressions. The usher, with a long rod, seated on a raised chair, faces the jury on the opposite side of the court. Corpulent constables with staves stand beside and in front of the dock. Freely sketched spectators look down from a crowded gallery above the dock. Almost all eyes are on the prisoner, behind whom stand the Devil, with folded arms, fiercely gloating over his victim. Behind the usher is a high white screen on which Napoleon's offences are inscribed: 'NAPOLEAN BONAPARTE The first and last by the Wrath of Heaven Ex Emperor of the Jacobins & head Runner of Runaways [see British Museum Satires No. 12192], Stands indicted 1ts [sic] for the Murder of Captain Wright in the Temple at Paris 2d for the murder of the Duke Dangulem [d'Enghien] Pichegrew & Georges 3 for the Murder of Palm Hoffer &c & 4th for the murder of the 12 inhabitants of Moscow 5th for inumerable Robberies committed on all Nations in Christendom & elsewhere, 6th for Bigamy & lastly for returning from Transportation, and setting the World in an uproar.' Blücher says fiercely: "You Nap Boneparte being found Guilty of all these Crimes it is fell to my lot to pronounce Sentence of Death on You--You are to be hung by the Neck for one hour till you are Dead, Dead, Dead, & your Body to be chained to a Mill Stone & sunk in the Sea at Torbay." Napoleon says: "Oh cruel Blucher, Oh! cruel Wellington it is you that have brought me to this End. Oh Magnanimous Emperors Kings & Princes intercede for me and spare my life; and give me time to attone for all my Sins, My Son Napoleon the Second will reward you for Mercy shewn me." The sovereigns are poorly characterized. On the extreme left is Alexander, next him and on Blücher's right is the Prince Regent. On Blücher's left is Louis XVIII. Next (?) the King of Prussia, then the Emperor of Austria; next, the Pope with clasped hands, wearing his tiara. On the extreme right is (?) Ferdinand of Spain looking through an eye-glass."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Europe's injuries revenged
Description:
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark on bottom edge., Temporary local subject terms: Courtrooms -- Judges -- Military uniform: Regimentals --Lawyers -- Ushers -- Constables -- Constables' staves -- Devils -- Satan -- Popes -- Trials., and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
R. Ackermann, 101 Strand
Subject (Name):
Ackermann, Rudolph, 1764-1834, publisher., Alexander--I,--Emperor of Russia,--1777-1825--Caricatures and cartoons., Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Blücher, Gebhard Leberecht von,--1742-1819--Caricatures and cartoons., Ferdinand--I,--Emperor of Austria,--1793-1875--Caricatures and cartoons., Ferdinand--VII,--King of Spain,--1784-1833--Caricatures and cartoons., Frederick William--III,--King of Prussia,--1770-1840--Caricatures and cartoons., George--IV,--King of Great Britain,--1762-1830--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Louis--XVIII,--King of France,--1755-1824--Caricatures and cartoons., Napoleon--I,--Emperor of the French,--1769-1821--Caricatures and cartoons., and Pius--VII,--Pope,--1742-1823--Caricatures and cartoons.
Attributed to Rowlandson by Grego., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Ackermann, Rudolph, 1764-1834, publisher., Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., and Harvey, Francis--Ownership.
Subject (Topic):
Boots., Clothing & dress--England--1800-1810., and Shoe polishes.
"No. 9."--Upper left corner., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., Text above image: A Pygmy cat hunt., and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Ackermann, Rudolph, 1764-1834, publisher., Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., and Woodward, G. M. (George Moutard), approximately 1760-1809, artist.
Subject (Topic):
Caricatures and cartoons --England and Satires (Visual works) --England
"Scene within the office; an assortment of colourful figures within office, which is separated into different sections; an open fire at far end."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Plate from: Microcosm of London. London : R. Ackermann's Repository of Arts, No. 101 Strand, [1808-1810?], v. 1, opposite page 82., Plate numbered in upper right, above image: Plate 11., and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
R. Ackermann's Repository of the Arts, 101 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
London (England)--Pictorial works.
Subject (Name):
Ackermann, Rudolph, 1764-1834, publisher., Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Great Britain.--Magistrates' Court (London : Bow Street), Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Hill, John, 1770-1850, printmaker., and Pugin, Augustus, 1762-1832, artist.
"George III (right), in court dress, stands majestically, his left elbow resting on a column inscribed Fortitude; his head is turned in profile to the left; Britannia, beside him, raises her spear to threaten Hadfield, who drops his pistol and is dragged off by a winged demon by means of a halter. The demon says: "Hadfield for thy diabolical attempt, thou shall meet with thy reward". A festooned curtain is inscribed (right) 'God Save the King'."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Loyalty triumphant
Description:
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue. and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Ackermann, Rudolph, 1764-1834, publisher., Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., George--III,--King of Great Britain,--1738-1820--Caricatures and cartoons., and Harvey, Francis--Ownership.
Lower left corner: Vide Roderick Random, Vol. II, Chap. XXXII., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., Temporary local subject terms: Architectural details: door frame -- Bow window -- Furniture: armchair -- Furnishings: window curtains., and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Ackermann, Rudolph, 1764-1834, publisher., Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Singleton, Henry, 1766-1839, artist., and Smollett, T.--(Tobias),--1721-1771.--Adventures of Roderick Random--Illustrations.
A group of four academics sit at a table playing cards; a fifth stands to the right in front of an open door. A thin serving woman (left) brings in a bottle of wine and a glass of wine on a tray. A portrait of a smiling man hangs on the back wall, on either side a cloak adn hats. One little dog stands next to the servant, a second dog is on the right.
Alternative Title:
Christmas academics, playing a rubber at whist
Description:
Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires. and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Ackermann, Rudolph, 1764-1834, publisher., Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Bunbury, Henry William, 1750-1811, artist., and Harvey, Francis--Ownership.
Subject (Topic):
Card games. , Dogs., Eating & drinking., Servants., and Teachers.
"Another version, reversed and altered, of British Museum Satires no. 8196 (1772). A fat woman on her back has been added to the group of two fleeing men, and beside the three men standing on the bank is a fat woman, horrified at the calamity."--British Museum online catalogue. and "Skaters have fallen upon breaking ice, some lie flat; heads and legs and arms emerge in wild confusion. In the middle distance (right) two skaters, one a parson, flee headlong from the danger-spot. On the shore (left) three men stand watching the catastrophe with amusement. Farther off is a marquee within which are tiny figures seated at a table."--British Museum online catalogue, description of an earlier version.
Description:
One of a group of prints on the topic of "miseries," etched by Rowlandson and issued in several series by Ackermann, that were later collected and published as the volume: Rowlandson, T. Miseries of human life. [London] : Published December 14, 1808, by R. Ackermann ..., [1808]. See British Museum catalogue and Grego., Publisher and date of publication from the British Museum online catalogue., and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Ackermann, Rudolph, 1764-1834, publisher., Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., and Harvey, Francis--Ownership.
"A large pig wears fashionable man's dress: coat with high collar and cravat, breeches; fore-legs in Hessian boots, hind-legs in slippers, with spectacles, a wig simulating short hair, an eyeglass hanging from the neck. Farm buildings form a background."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Collared pork
Description:
Companion print to: Beef a la mode. and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Ackermann, Rudolph, 1764-1834, publisher., Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., and Harvey, Francis--Ownership.