French democrats surprizing the Royal runaways, James Gillray, 1791

Louis xvi and marie antoinette seated on chairs at varennes while an armed and ferocious mob invades the room through an open door (left); the approach of an angry crowd is suggested by a sea of heads, above which weapons are raised. The king sits full face, the queen beside him in profile to the left and on the extreme right. One ruffian presents a blunderbuss at the queen, another, yelling, threatens the king with a pistol and sabre. A soldier (left) advances with his musket cocked towards the little dauphin, who has fallen on his back at the king's feet, having apparently been pushed over by the soldier's bayonet. A man wearing only a bonnet rouge and a shirt advances with a dagger in each hand; behind him is a man with a raised hammer in one hand, a broom in the other. 27 june 1791 hand-coloured etching. Date: 1791. Dimensions: Height: 251 mm; Width: 355 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Louis XVI, King of France and Navarre, . Collection: British Museum. French democrats surprizing the Royal runaways (BM 1851,0901.533)