Chez Martinet (Publisher)

an early state of this striking French satire of English politics in the Napoleonic era, before the addition of the series title and plate number ‘Garde a Vous, No. 15’ below the printed title. This first version of the composition is understood in the Library of Congress, and the Bibliotheque Nationale de France De Vinck collection references to depict prime minister William Pitt looking alarmed as he reads from dispatches to King George III, who falls backwards off his chair in horror at the news of French successes against Russia and Austria in late 1805 (Pitt was in office until his premature death in early 1806). Behind them, beyond a panelled barrier, are the large heads of numerous other politicians with various expressions of melancholy and despair, as well as conspiracy and satisfaction. All the figures in this version wear voluminous black robes.

A later version, issued in early 1809 in response to Napoleonic events in Spain towards the end of 1808, has not only the revised title ‘Lecture de la nouvelle de l’entrée des Français dans Madrid par le premier ministre d’Angleterre au roi George et à son conseil’, but also now shows the figure of George III reworked to depict him in more conventionally regal scarlet coat, star and ribbon, with a crown tumbling from his head. An example is held in the British Museum satires collection (11212), where the prime minister is now identified as Spencer Percival,

etching with original hand-colouring, 220 x 305 mm. (8 5/8 x 12 in), slight surface wear on a diagonal crease in the lower left corner, other minor handling creases, [De Vinck 8278; Library of Congress French Political Cartoon Collection 95512505; c.f. BM Satires 11212],