Gasconadeing -- alias -- The Runaway Emperor Humbuging the Senate, Charles Williams, 1 December 1813

In mid-october 1813, napoleon’s army was badly defeated at the battle of leipzig. Roughly 40,000 troops were killed, 30,000 captured, and the rest were forced to retreat across the rhine, which they reached on november 1st, leaving forever the occupied german territories. Napoleon returned to paris on november 11th, and appealed to the senate for more money and troops. The artist portrays napoleon in his imperial glory, standing before the throne surrounded by soldiers and trophies, which he presents to the senators as evidence of his victories. Some of the senators are unconvinced, noticing that the trophies actually commemorate victories by the allies and grumbling about all the soldiers that have already been lost. The devil, peeking out from behind the throne, cheers napoleon on to provide him with more soldiers before napoleon himself enters hell. In fact, the senate did approve an additional 300,000 soldiers to be drafted in the next three years. Reference source: george #12111 published in volume 325 of town talk, december 1, 1813. Subjects (lctgm): legislators--france; devil subjects (lcsh): political cartoons; history--caricatures & cartoons; napoleon i, emperor of the french, 1769-1821; napoleonic wars, 1800-1815. Date: 1 December 1813. Place of creation: London. Dimensions: height: 20 cm (7.8 in); width: 50 cm (19.6 in). Medium: etching. Collection: University of Washington. Gasconadeing -- alias -- The Runaway Emperor Humbuging the Senate (NAPOLEON 166)