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
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and Archives Repository
Western Bank Library
University of Sheffield
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