A satire of Napoleon Bonaparte's ambitions for world domination

HOLLAND, William.

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

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.

BRITISH MUSEUM: Satires 9977 (uncoloured).
Stock ID : 23323