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Consequences of a Successfull French Invasion No. VI Plate 1st, 6 March 1798

 Item — Box: LF104/5 Box 1
Reference code: LF104/5/6
Consequences of a Successfull French Invasion No. VI Plate 1st, 6 March 1798
Consequences of a Successfull French Invasion No. VI Plate 1st, 6 March 1798

Scope and Contents

Artist: James Gillray. After: Sir John Dalrymple. Published: James Gillray. The title continues: 'We fly on the Wings of the Wind to save the Irish Catholics from Persecution. - Scene. The Front of a Popish Chapel.' Beneath the title: 'Description. A Priest driven out of his Chapel, A French Soldier trampling on Crucifixes and Mitres, another kicking the Priest, a Gracefull Old Man; and a third stabbing him with a Dagger behind: A Membre de la haute Cour de Justice (in English a Member of the high Court of Justice, in his habit of Office, who has learnt to speak the English Language well, by going much to the Play-House, (having been long a Player himself,) says in the words of Othello - "Good, \ very Good, the Justice, of it pleases, even on the \ Stage of his own Imposition,- and it is \ thus, that, the Gratitude of the French Republic always pays Three Favours for One." - ' [Dalrymple, op. cit., p. 37.] Two ferocious soldiers wearing jack-boots pull and push the priest (in lace-trimmed cotta) from the door of a gothic church (right). A third jumps on a Bible and crucifix, part of a pile of crosier, mitre, chalice, censer (still burning). On the cross which surmounts the door is a Phrygian cap of 'Liberté'. From a niche inscribed 'Ecce Homo' a crucifix has been torn, leaving only a crown of thorns and a skull and cross-bones. In the corresponding niche is a headless figure of 'Santè Marie', clasping a headless infant, burlesqued (in Gillray's manner when dealing with emblems of 'Popery'). On the left the 'Member of the high-court' walks past with folded arms, looking sideways with a sinister glare at the outrage. Description from the British Museum.

Dates

  • Creation: 6 March 1798

Conditions Governing Access

Physical item available by appointment in our Reading Room

Extent

1.0 Item(s)

Language of Materials

English