Proposition de constitution aux habitants de l'Ile St. Hélène par l'Ex Empereur et Roi ex-Emperor and ex-King's proposal of a constitution to the inhabitants of the island of St. Helena The Louis active early 19c caricaturist Paris, FRA 1816 1 print; 28 x 39 cm An all-seeing eye (upper left) peers down on Napoleon, who has attempted to assemble his own Champ de Mai with a constituency of rats. Napoleon stands on a tall grassy mound to address the crowd of rats, who cavort at his feet. While some of the rats wear tri-color hats, plumes, and carry banners and flags, most fight and play amongst themselves. Here, Napoleon's delusions of grandeur have reached their full extent. Not only does he attempt to command an island of rodents, but he is rendered into a mechanical figure. His right arm, which is extended in a rhetorical gesture, is strangely joined at the elbow and suggests the jointing of a puppet. In addition, his nose (that of a liar) is long and crooked and protrudes clumsily from his block-like head. These features, coupled with the costume of white tunic, wide ruff, and a hat that explodes in a bouquet of tri-colored plumes, indicate that this representation is derived from Commedia dell'arte characters. Such representation renders his cape patterned with bees and the medal of the Legion of Honor pinned to his chest--expressions of his French imperial power--into emblems of his delusion. An owl, perched on a tree branch (far right) replaces the imperial eagle that once was Napoleon's symbol. This nocturnal bird, with its wings spread, is also located on the top of a tri-color flag held by one of the rats (also on right). The catalogs that include this image record the maker as 'Louis' and date the caricature to August 12, 1815. Napoleon: Vous le jurez? Rats: left: Nous le jourons. right: Oui! ...oui! Déposé aux direction de l'Estampes. A Paris chez tous les Marchands des Nouveautés. Napoleon I, Emperor of the French 1769-1821 Caricatures and cartoons Napoleonic Satires 2 http://dl.lib.brown.edu/napoleon Bullard F-271 John Hay Library 1132582437979519 still imageNo Copyright - United StatesCollection is open for research.