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| Archive Reference / Library Class No. | D5459/2/70 |
| Former Reference | D5459/3/14 |
| Title | The Progress of the Emperor Napoleon |
| Date | 19 Nov 1808 |
| Description | Eight portraits of Napoleon arranged in two rows. Top row, left to right:
'A Ragged Headed Corsican Peasant'. A dishevelled Napoleon with unkempt hair.
'Studying Mischief at the Royal Military Academy at Paris'. Napoleon sits at a desk studying plans of fortifications.
'A humble Ensign in a Republican Corps, requesting a situation in the British Army'. Lucien Bonaparte claimed that Bonaparte had seriously considered taking a commission in the forces of the British East India Company, but no evidence exists.
'A determined Atheistical Republican General ordering his men to fire on the Parisians volleys of grape shot'.
Bottom row, left to right:
'A Turk at Grand Cairo'. Refers to his expedition to Egypt of 1798.
'A Runaway from Egypt'. Napoleon left in Egypt in 1799 upon news of unrest in France.
'A Devout Catholic'. This refers to the Concordat signed with the Pope on 15 Jul 1807.
'An Emperor on a Throne of Iniquities, O Tempora, O Mores.' A crowned Napoleon sits on a throne, on the back of which are written his many crimes:
'd'Enghien'. A Duke, captured at Ettenheim in 1804 and taken to Vincennes, where he was court-martialled and shot. Intended to show establishment of Empire by showing Jacobins that Bourbons would not return. The Tsar made complaint, broke off diplomatic relations and held official mourning at Russian Court.
'Jaffa'. The garrison at Jaffa was captured by French in 1799. They surrendered but according to reports 3800 Turkish troops were taken to the beach and killed. The inclusion of the allegation by Wilson in his 'History of the British Expedition to Egypt' brought complaints from Talleyrand.
'Toussaint'. The 'Bonaparte of Santo Domingo'. Napoleon re-introduced slavery and had Toussaint imprisoned at Joux, where he died in 1803
'Palm'. A Nuremburg bookseller shot dead on Napoleon's order, thus precipitating the Prussian war of 1806.
'Williams'. Possibly error for Wright who was taken prisoner in 1804 after landing Royalist conspirators in France. The French claimed he committed suicide in 1805 after interrogation, but in Britain he was believed to have been murdered.
'Pichegru'. Found dead in prison on 6 Apr 1804. He was long claimed to have been murdered by Napoleon, but it was probably suicide.
'Calon'. Probably Calonne, who died 1802 after returning to France with Napoleon's permission.
Available on CD 163. |
| Level | Item |
| Repository | Derbyshire Record Office |
| Artist | Woodward, George Murgatroyd (?1765-1809) |
| Archive Creator | George Murgatroyd Woodward (1765-1809), artist and writer |
| Further Information | 296
Pub Nov 19 1808 [date is partially obliterated] Thos Tegg No 111 Cheapside
According to BM Sat 11053 this refers to six of the scenes in Gillray's 'Democracy - or - a Sketch of the Life of Buonaparte' (BM Sat 9534). |
| Physical Description | Hand-coloured print. Size 346 x 239 mm. |
| Copies | A digital copy can also be viewed on the public computers at the record office. |
| Publication Note | BM Sat 11053 |
| Term | Slavery |
| Slaves |
| Forced labour |
| Ethnic groups |
| Oppression |
| Image | 
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