Fighting for the dunghill: -or- Jack Tar settling Buonaparte, James Gillray, 1798

A british sailor, firmly planted astride the globe, is severely punishing bonaparte, who, with one knee precariously on 'turk[ey]' (egypt), is about to fall backwards into space. Bonaparte wears a huge cocked hat, is naked from the waist, but wears sleeve-ruffles, according to the old gibe on the beggarly french fop. He is much emaciated, and gashed with wounds; 'nelson' is inscribed on his solar plexus. Blood gushes from his nose. Jack tar's right leg stretches across central europe, the toe supported on 'malta'. Clouds form a background. 20 november 1798 hand-coloured etching and aquatint. Date: 1798. Dimensions: Height: 259 mm; Width: 357 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Napoléon I, Emperor of the French. Collection: British Museum. Fighting for the dunghill- -or- Jack Tar settling Buonaparte (BM 1851,0901.945)