"Time stands behind an oval table covered with a cloth on which is an hour-glass, its sands nearly run out, standing on a large flat book inscribed 'Traitè de Paix', from which five seals hang evenly. Behind him is a doorway in a stone wall, covered with a curtain, one side of which he holds. With his left forefinger he points upwards at the inscription above the door: 'L'avenir', which is decorated with seven (drooping) ears of corn. The seals are inscribed (left to right): 'F.W.' [Frederick William of Prussia]; 'G Rx', with its ribbon inscribed 'God save the King'; France; a crowned 'C' [Catherine II]; 'Fr. Imp.' [Francis Imperator] (prophetic of the powers that decided the fate of Holland in 1815). 'Le génie du Terns garde la porte de l'avenir;... Qui est le mortel assez hardi, pour oser le penetrer? . . .' Text, 'Proverbs', x. 28. To this is added, in English only, 'St. Matthew', v. 9, 'Blessed are the peacemakers!'"--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Artist identified as Hess and printmaker questionably identified as Gillray in the British Museum catalogue., Place and date of publication from British Museum catalogue., Possibly published by Hannah Humphrey. See British Museum catalogue., One of twenty plates published as a bound set entitled: Hollandia regenerata., Plate numbered "20" in upper left corner., With: Letterpress explanation in French that includes appropriate texts from the Bible in Dutch and in English., Temporary local subject terms: Holland: civil discord -- Emblems: hour-glass -- Personifications: Time -- Seven ears of wheat-corn as United Provinces., 1 print : etching in red ink on wove paper ; plate mark 27.7 x 22.0 cm, on sheet 29.8 x 24.2 cm., and Mounted on leaf 60 of volume 12 of 12, with letterpress explanation opposite.
"A tall French soldier, swarthy, mustachioed, muscular, and sinister stands almost full-face, his mouth open as if shouting. In his large cocked hat are three large favours, one white inscribed 'Vive Le Roi', one tricolour inscribed 'Vive Le Empereur', the uppermost and largest, 'Vive Le Diable', is pink. He holds his musket by the barrel, the butt resting on the ground, in his left hand he holds out a snuff-box. His uniform is neat, but his feet are bare, except for remnants of leather across the instep. By his head in large letters: 'French Constancy' (left) and 'French Integrity' (right). Behind and on a smaller scale are emblems of fickleness: a windmill (left) represents 'French Stability'; an ape and cat embracing, both on their hind-legs, represents: 'French Union between the National Guard and Troops of the Line'."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Vive le roi! Vive le empereur. Vive le diable
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker, publisher, and date of publication from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark on bottom edge., and Mounted on leaf 42 of volume 13 of 14 volumes.
