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Abstract: Celebrating Napoleon's exile to Elba, this satire imagines a joyful procession that accompanies Napoleon to the boat to Elba. Napoleon, looking forlorn and bedraggled, is in the center of the sheet. He wears his uniform coat backwards and has his hands tied behind his back. Large tears drip from his eyes while a small demon fiddles and dances on his head. The infant King of Rome pops out of Napoleon's coat pocket and waves a rattle proudly announcing the "grand manouevre" he has made in his pocket. Napoleon's removed epaulettes are on the ground behind him, as are his broken sword, scissors, and a sheet of paper inscribed "Done at Fountainbleau." Two impish children tug at the rope looped around Napoleon's neck and pull him on towards a boat steered by the Devil waiting by the riverside. Talleyrand follows Napoleon, pushing him forward with the "Allied Broom." Greatly satired, he grins malevolently while pointing a crooked finger at Napoleon and marching forward. Signalling Talleyrand's imperfect and untrustworthy nature, Cruikshank has chosen to emphasize his deformed leg. A group of French citizens bring up the rear of the procession. They fly a flag topped by a fleur-de-lys and embroidered with the words: "Vivent les Bourbons." The crowd cheers the Bourbon restoration and pelts Napoleon with bits of trash that include bones and animal carcasses. As evident in the caps of the children (or dwarves) that accompany the spectacle, liberty caps and French imperial symbols have been replaced with oaths of loyalty to the restored monarch. In ths distance, Elba is ablaze with large bonfires and is topped by a gibbettstanding on the rocky peak. While one body already dangles from the pole, another noose is empty and waiting for Napoleon's neck. Colors remain in good condition, yet the sheet shows signs of wrikling, staining and there are two tears in the upper and lower left.
Note: Published by Thomas Tegg, No. 111 Cheapside, April 13, 1814. Not only does this satire ridicule Napoleon, but it also pointedly satirizes the French who happily embraced the restoration of absolute Monarchy; George refers to this ambiguity as 'French fickleness.' Thus, once more the French, as a nation, are characterized by their propensity towards extremes and inability or unwillingness to seek a happy medium (as in England's Constitutional Monarchy).
Note: Text (displayLabel="Caption", lang="English"): Pubd April 13th 1814 by T. Tegg No 111 Cheapside
Note: Text (displayLabel="Dialogue", lang="English"): Fifer: "He was whip'd and he w drum'd/ He w drum'd out of the Regt/ If ever he is a Soldier again/ The Devil may be his Sergeant.
Note: Text (displayLabel="Dialogue", lang="English"): Talleyrand: "There he goes!!!"
Note: Text (displayLabel="Dialogue", lang="English"): King of Rome: "By gar Papa I have made von grand manoeuvre in your Pocket!!"
Note: Text (displayLabel="Dialogue", lang="English and French"): Various members of the crowd: "à bas le Tyran," "down with the Tyrant," "Vive Louis," "Vive Louis XVIII."
Note: Text (displayLabel="Plate Mark", lang=""): 326
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Related Item: Host (displayLabel="Collection:")
Identifier: Local (displayLabel="ASKB Call No.:"): Bullard E-410
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Identifier: METSID: 1131565316935296
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.