A design in two compartments, one above the other, the figures in both being three quarter length. [1] a ragged french barber, in profile to the right, gesticulating and capering, says to six terror-stricken companions: "o sacre dieu! de king is escape! de king is escape". The foremost listener is a tailor, his shears stuck through the string of his apron, a measuring-tape round his shoulders, but wearing a cocked hat and sword. On the extreme left is a diminutive postboy. All are much caricatured with expressions denoting dismay. The barber wears a bag-wig, with a comb stuck in his hair; the others wear tricolour cockades in their hats. [2] another group of ruffians listen with delight to a cook (left) who says, taking a pinch of snuff, and capering, "aha! be gar, de king is retaken! aha! monsr lewis is retaken! aha!" in his cap is a tricolour cockade inscribed 'liberty'; he wears over-sleeves, a spoon and fork are stuck through his apron-string, a string of frogs hangs from his belt. His most prominent listener is a shoe-black with a grotesquely wide grin, who stands, shoe in one hand, brush in the other. These much-caricatured ragamuffins are typical of the french republicans depicted by gillray: at once ludicrous and horrible. 28 june 1791
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1791. Dimensions: Height: 408 mm; Width: 299 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Louis XVI, King of France and Navarre, . Collection: British Museum. The National Assembly Petrified. The National Assembly Revivified (BM 1851,0901.534)
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