The head of louis xvi (a portrait) lies at the foot of the guillotine, a corner of the scaffold forming the base of the design. The guillotine is realistically drawn; the body of the king, hands tied, lies on the low platform behind the machine, the legs being cut off by the left margin. The blade and head drip with blood, which ascends in a broad crimson swirl across the design, expanding into clouds of smoke as it rises. On this is etched: 'whither, - o whither shall my blood ascend for justice? - my throne is seized on, by my murderers; my brothers are driven \ into exile; - my unhappy wife & innocent infants are shut up in the horrors of a dungeon; - while robbers & assassins are sheathing \ their daggers in the bowels of my country! - ah! ruined, desolated country! dearest object of my heart! whose misery was to me the \ sharpest pang in death! what will become of thee? - o britons! vice-gerents of eternal-justice! arbiters of the world! - look \ down from that height of power to which you are raised, & behold me here! - deprived of life & of kingdom, see where \ i lie; full low, festering in my own blood! - which flies to your august tribunal for justice! - by your affection for your own \ wives & children - rescue mine: - by your love for your country, by the blessings of that true liberty which you possess, - by the \ virtues which adorn the british crown, - by all that is sacred, & all that is dear to you - revenge the blood of a monarch most i undeservedly butchered, - and rescue the kingdom of france, from being the prey of violence, usurpation & cruelty. '
above the design: 'this exact representation of that instrument of french refinement in assassination, the guillotine is submitted to the gentlemen of "the phalanx" - & other well-wishers to the king & constitution of great-britain, ------by their devoted servants at command the assassins of the king of france. ' fox and his remnant of followers are indicated, cf. Bmsat 8286. 16 february 1793
hand-coloured etching and engraving. Date: 1793. Dimensions: Height: 348 mm; Width: 257 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Charles X, King of France and Navarre, . Collection: British Museum. The blood of the murdered crying for vengeance (BM 1868,0808.6277)
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