Doctor price (left), kneeling on a royal crown, looks through a peep-hole into the royal bedroom at versailles, where ruffians are searching for the queen. The design is divided into two portions by the wall through which price looks; a demon sits on his back clutching him round the body with his claws, and holding back a curtain which covers the peep-hole; in his right hand he holds up a fleur-de-lis sceptre; he says, "oh quel beau jour". Price, his hands folded in prayer, turns his head to the right, looking up sanctimoniously and saying, "lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen. "
within the room three ruffians (left) are slashing and probing the bed and pillows with (respectively) a sword, dagger, and pitchfork. One says "alons le duc [d'orléans] nous payerons noblement pour ceci". A man kneeling on the ground (left) fires a pistol under the bed and hits a chamber-pot (right). A man (right) holding up a sword, raises the lid of a close-stool, saying, here she is. On the left a man cuts to pieces a half length portrait of louis xvi. Through the open door (right) marie antoinette in a night-dress with bare feet escapes down a staircase. Below the title is inscribed: 'is this a triumph to be consecrated at alters? to be commemorated with grateful thanksgiving! to be offered to the divine humanity with fervent prayer & enthusiastick ejaculation? - these theban & thracian orgies, acted in france, and applauded only in the old jewry vide reflections on the revolution page
107'. 12 december [1790]. Hand-coloured etching. Date: 1790. Dimensions: Height: 273 mm; Width: 356 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Edmund Burke. Collection: British Museum. The doctor indulged with his favorite scene (BM 1868,0808.6245)
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