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A satire of Napoleon Bonaparte’s ambitions for world domination

Stock No. 23323 Category: Tags: , Cartographer: HOLLAND, William.

An Attempt to Swallow the World!!!
London: William Holland, 1803. Etching with original hand colour. 325 x 250mm.

£680

In stock

Napoleon Bonaparte is depicted with a grotesquely-large head, a globe stuffed into his mouth, with Switzerland and Italy about to disappear. On the other side of the world is Great Britain. Watching is John Bull, as an elderly, spectacle-wearing 'cit', who says ''I'll tell you what, Mr Boneypartee, when you come to a little Spot I have in my eye, it will stick in your throat and choak you!''.
A contemporary satire of Napoleon Bonaparte, published a month before his aggressive behaviour caused Britain to declare the short-lived Peace of Amiens to be over. He had annexed the Cisalpine Republic in northern Italy and sent troops into the Helvetian Republic. Although not mentioned on this satire, Napoleon was also negotiating the Louisiana Purchase (selling the French colony to the United States), knowing he could not protect it from the British in event of war.

Additional information

Dimensions 250 × 325 mm
Cartographer

Date

1803

Extra Info

An Attempt to Swallow the World!!!

Publication

London: William Holland, 1803. Etching with original hand colour. 325 x 250mm.

Condition

A good example.

References

BRITISH MUSEUM: Satires 9977 (uncoloured).