Napoleon, the "dunghill Cock," and Marie-Louise, the "Game Pullet," are at leisure in a large park. The dialogue between the two is full of double entendre. The empress' encouragement for Napoleon to "Batter away" and "pour in another round or two" responds to Napoleon's lament that he has "discharged my artillery to no purpose." While the dialogue appears to be about Napoleon's military campaigns, it more accurately relates to the couple's own private campaign to produce heirs to the throne. In this image, the empress is reclining in an elaborate swing tethered between two columns. The swing is an ornate affair decorated on the outside with gilded carvings of grotesque figures and with the inscription, "Nationale Cradle." Marie-Louise relaxes against the red cushions and a blue blanket set on top of the "cradle." Her hair has come loose from the momentum of the swing, her dress flies up indecorously revealing her ankles and calves, and her bodice is cut dangerously low. In attitude and in dress she exhibits wanton behavior. Her licentiousness is indicated by the classical sculpture group at the far left of the image, inscribed "Stolen Images" on the pedestal. The sculpture depicts a nude male figure approaching a nude female. A mangy dog walks under the swing. An inscription on his back indicates he is "Brought from Egypt." The dog stalks towards Napoleon with his tail tucked between his legs. The collar he wears is inscribed "A Sneaking Cur" and further indicates his connection to Napoleon. Furthermore, the dog also has two papers tied to its body: a sheet inscribed "Marie Louisa's Delight" is tied to its hindquarters, and another sheet labeled "One of Bony's Pack" hangs from the collar. Napoleon stands at the right of the image. His back is turned toward the empress and it seems that he is battered in the rear by the moving swing. He is bent over at the waist and clutches his back with his right hand while leaning heavily on his left hand, which is propped against his thigh. An officer watches from the far right of the sheet. It is not clear whether he raises his eyeglass to spy on the imperial couple, or whether he is admiring the sculpture--or both.
Notes:
This image is not signed by the artist.
Dialogue: Marie-Louise: "Batter away my little Boney, pour in another round or two before you look for a Flag of Truce." Napoleon: "Marblue, I have discharged my whole Artillery to no purpose. I must give orders to my Aide de Camp to renew the attack and to instruct how to Mannoeuvre from a distant hill."
Inscription: Price One Shilling Coloured.
Inscription: Pubd. April 27th 1810 by Thos. Tegg No. 111 Cheapside.
"The Dunghill cock and game pullet, or Boney beat out of the pitt"
(1810).
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:232340/
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