Title Information
Title
Corsican spider in his web!
Non Sort
The
Name
Name Part
Rowlandson, Thomas
Name Part: Date
1756-1827
Role
Role Term: Text
engraver
Name
Name Part
Woodward, George Moutard
Name Part: Date
1760-1809
Role
Role Term: Text
designer
Name
Name Part
Tegg, Thomas
Name Part: Date
1776-1845
Role
Role Term: Text
publisher
Origin Information
Place
Place Term: Text
London, GBR
Date Created
1808
Physical Description
Extent
1 print; 32.7 x 22.4 cm
Abstract
In this well-known satire by Thomas Rowlandson, Napoleon is represented as a large spider sitting in the center of his web waiting patiently for unsuspecting flies to ensnare themselves. Stuffing his mouth with a "Spanish Fly," Napoleon's fat body is inscribed with the title "Unbounded Ambition." Rowlandson supplies Napoleon and several other flies with human heads making the comedy and the message of the image unmistakable. Already, the web is littered with many flies: "Dutch Fly," "Hanoverian Fly," and "Prussian Fly," to name a few. Skirting the web, the "Turkish Fly" declares that it fears it will be his turn next, while the "British Fly" announces that it is too smart to be caught in such a web. The sheet is in good condition and nicely colored. There are some small black spots, or stains, possibly from the printing process.
Note
Published by Thomas Tegg, 1808-06-12. British Museum, BM 10999. This satire provides commentary on the state of Europe in 1808. George writes: 'Before the Spanish revolt,... Napoleon seemed to control Spain and to be about to proceed to the complete isolation of Britain and the eventual partition of the Turkish Empire, having already dominated the princes of Europe.'
Note: Text (displayLabel="Caption", lang="English")
Pubd July 12th, 1808 by Thos Tebb N III Cheapside
Note: Text (displayLabel="Dialogue", lang="English")
British Fly: "Ay you may look Master Spider but I am not to be caught in your web."
Note: Text (displayLabel="Dialogue", lang="English")
Pope Fly: "I am afraid I shall be draggd in."
Note: Text (displayLabel="Dialogue", lang="English")
Russian Fly: "I declare I was half in the web before I made the discovery."
Note: Text (displayLabel="Dialogue", lang="English")
Turkish Fly: "I am afraid it will be my turn next."
Note: Text (displayLabel="Printed Signature", lang="")
Thomas Rowlandson scul. Woodward del.
Note: Text (displayLabel="Annotation", lang="English")
143
Subject
Name: Personal
Name Part
Napoleon
Name Part: Terms of Address
I, Emperor of the French
Name Part: Date
1769-1821
Topic
Caricatures and cartoons
Related Item: Host (displayLabel="Collection:")
Title Information
Title
Napoleonic Satires
Identifier: COLID
2
Identifier: URI
http://dl.lib.brown.edu/napoleon
Identifier: Local (displayLabel="ASKB Call No.:")
Bullard E-234
Location
Physical Location
John Hay Library
Identifier: METSID
1131029839522564
Type of Resource
still image
Access Condition: rights statement (href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/")
No Copyright - United States
Access Condition: restriction on access
Collection is open for research.