The bishop of a tun's breeches;-or-the flamming eveque, purifyng the house of office!, James Gillray, 1792

The interior of a latrine; a procession, headed by talleyrand holding up a crozier, advances towards the seat; through the circular aperture looks out the head of a demon, saying, "ca ira! ca ira!" talleyrand, as bishop of autun, wears mitre, lawn sleeves, long robes; he puts one knee on the seat, showing that his leg above the knee is bare, revealing him a sans-culotte; to his crozier are suspended his blazing breeches. He is followed by a french fish-wife, walking in profile to the right, and carrying a flaming torch inscribed 'inflammatory epis[tle]'; in her right hand is a document inscribed 'instructions from the national assembly to their diplomatique'. Two fish hang from her waist. Behind and on the extreme left walk three small and ruffianly frenchmen with tricolour caps carrying a lighted brazier, a red-hot poker, &c. On the wall (right), partly obscured by the smoke from the breeches and in danger of destruction, is a picture of 'the house of commons'. Beneath the title is etched: 'to the patriots of france & england, this representation of the burning zeal of the holy "attachè a la mission", and his colleague "l'envoié des poissardes", is most respectfully dedicated - ' 14 may 1792 hand-coloured etching. Date: 1792. Dimensions: Height: 250 mm; Width: 350 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: François Bernard de Chauvelin. Collection: British Museum. The bishop of a tun's breeches;-or-the flamming eveque, purifyng the house of office! (BM 1868,0808.6190)