A small sansculotte juggler, running in profile to the left, balances on his chin the hilt of a dagger, on whose point rests the pointed base of a large cup, across the top of which straddles a nude monster, with the ears and beard of a satyr. His fingers and toes are talons; in his right hand he holds out by the hair the decollated head of louis xvi, in his left hand that of marie antoinette. On his head are five daggers, their points meeting to form a 'cap of liberty'. Two labels issue from his ferociously grinning mouth: "ça ira, ça ira, ça ira", and, "hold me well up or i will bite off your head". The little man below, whose arms are folded, says, "by gar tis var heavy, o dear! o dear! it will fall!" the cup is decorated with bands of red, white, and blue. 24 april 1794. Hand-coloured etching. Date: 1794. Dimensions: Height: 380 mm; ; Width: 250 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Louis XVI, King of France and Navarre, . Collection: British Museum. The democracy of France. (BM 1868,0808.6346)
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