The colossus, emblem of french revolutionary bloodshed and aggression (and perhaps intended for bonaparte), strides from egypt (right), where the left foot rests on pyramids, to 'france', where the right foot tramples on the 'holy bible' and a cross. Beneath the bible lie the dismantled scales of justice. Above, an arm and the shield of britannia emerge from dark clouds; in the hand is a sheaf of thunderbolts which smites the colossus, striking off its head, a skull in which serpents twine; from this drops a bonnet-rouge in the form of a fool's cap. The arms and legs of the colossus have also been broken, so that the figure is on the point of collapse. The severed right hand rests on a guillotine, inscribed 'fraternité'. The decollated head of louis xvi [see bmsat 8297, &c] hangs by the hair from the figure's neck. From the left hand drops an open book: 'religion de la nature [cf. Bmsats 8350, 9240] injustice oppression murder destruction'. The figure wears only a tricolour sash and belt in which are a pistol and a bloody dagger. Its hands and feet are dyed with blood above the wrists and ankles. Tricolour flags inscribed with names decorate the landscape, showing the extent of french depredations: 'malta' in the channel immediately under the colossus; 'spain' (left) behind 'france'; 'holland', with windmills; 'switzerland' backed by rocky mountains; 'rome' with the dome of st. Peter's. Beneath the title: "shall the works of a wicked nation remain? - shall the monuments of oppression not be destroyed? - shall the \ "light'ning not blast the image, which the destroyers have set up against the god of heaven, & against his laws?" tertullian. ' [the quotation is not from the authentic works of tertullian. Information from mr. E. H. Blakeney. ] 1 november 1798
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1798. Dimensions: Height: 358 mm; Width: 255 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Napoléon I, Emperor of the French. Collection: British Museum. Destruction of the French Collossus (BM 1868,0808.6780)
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