The two heirs to the Spanish throne, Antonio and Carlos, are infantilized and sleep soundly on Napoleon's lap. Like the other sleeping royals, Antonio and Carlos are represented with adult heads on the bodies of babies. In addition, these two wear padlocked collars around their necks. With a devious smirk, Napoleon gazes down on the sleeping infants and sings a lullaby that promises, "You shall have your crowns again--but I don't know when!" He extends his legs wide so that he is able to rock two additional "Imperial Cradles" with his feet. Other members of the Spanish imperial family, the King and Queen of Spain on the right, and Ferdinand, of Austria, sleep soundly. As a caretaker, Napoleon clearly has his hands full. The satire asks us to imagine that chaos that would occur if the children were to wake up crying. Yet, at the same time, it points to the complacency of the Spanish royals and their lack of political cunning. Print is in good condition, but has a repaired tear at bottom center.
Notes:
Published by Thomas Tegg, N. 111, Cheapside, 12 July, 1808.
Caption: Pubd July 12th, 1808 by Thos Tegg. N 111 Cheapside
Dialogue: Napoleon: "Hush a bye-Hush a bye-you shall have your crowns again-but I don't know when!"
Printed Signature: Woodward Del. Rowlandson scul.
Label(s): "Imperial Cradles": "Prince of Austria" "The Good Old King and his Amiable Consort".
"The Corsican nurse soothing the infants of Spain"
(1808).
Napoleonic Satires from the Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection, Prints, Drawings and Watercolors from the Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection.
Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library.
https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:232220/
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