Siege de la Colonne de Pompée [graphic] ; Science in the pillory / etched by Js. Gillray from the original intercepted drawing.

London : Publish'd March 6th, 1799, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street, [6 March 1799]

1 print : etching ; plate mark 54.3 x 41.5 cm, on sheet 55 x 44 cm

wove paper

From a collection in twelve volumes probably compiled by Francis Harvey and sold at auction, Sotheby, London, June 1900. Bequest of Hugh Dudley Auchincloss to Yale University Library, 1981. Bound by Riviere & Son in three-quarters red morocco with gold tooling and gold lettering on spine.

"Turks and Bedouins besiege the base of a tall Corinthian column, on which is a group of terrified French savants. They have lit a fire at the base of the column whose smoke ascends in an expanding cloud; other Arabs advance with sheaves of reeds to feed the flames. On the small platform eight Frenchmen are crowded together; one, with wings attached to his shoulders and arms, steps into the void, stretching out his arms to a balloon, already wrecked by musket-fire. Their commander (probably Bonaparte), who wears a large plumed cocked hat and an order, shouts to the besiegers, holding up a placard 'Vive Mahomet Qui protegoit les Sciences'. A man kneeling beside him clasps him in terror; from his pocket issues a paper: 'Projet pour Bruler la Mecque'. A stout man (left) is about to hurl down a (? celestial) globe and a scientific instrument; another prepares to fling a large book: 'Le Ciel Revolutionné ou les Constellations Sans-culottisés'. A lean fanatic is about to commit suicide: he holds up a bottle labelled 'Tone', and clasps another labelled 'Louvet Opium'; in his belt are weapons inscribed 'Romme' and 'Roland' (all of whom but (?) Louvet killed themselves). A terrified face bites a book inscribed 'Savary'. A thin scholar (right) wearing a skull-cap is perhaps Monge. A ninth man falls from the summit (left); from his pocket issues a paper: 'Projet pour rendre les Hommes Immortels'. A stork (left) flies upwards from the column. Two scientific instruments (one electric) and six books fall from the column: 'Ebauche d'un Systeme de Législation pour une Colonie d Anthropophages' [cf. BMSat 9356]; 'Traité sur la Guillotine par un Théophilanthrope'; 'Sur le Reedification de la Tour de Babel'; 'Encyclopédie Edit: de Paris Vol: LX.'; 'Tableau de Logarithms'. The lowest, 'Projet de Fraternisation avec les Bedouins', hits a Bedouin and strikes him to the ground. On the ground is 'Le Contrat Social'. The besiegers fire at the Frenchmen or hold up their spears waiting for them to fall. One fires at an exploding balloon (right), 'La Diligence d'Abissynie' (cf. BMSat 9403), from which the (tricolour) boat has already fallen. One of the occupants falls head first towards the spears below; another descends by a parachute which has been traversed by the shot at the balloon; he is about to be transfixed by an arrow. Falling books are 'Les Ruines par le Cit: Volney'; 'Traité sur la Velocité des Corps Descendans'; and 'Theorie de l'Aerostation'. In the foreground right two fat Turks sit impassively back to back on a camel which gazes upwards; they are confident and incurious; one smokes reflectively. Arabs and Africans are in violent motion, some firing, others with spears. Behind (left) men gallop up on asses. A man (left) looks up through the wrong end of a telescope. In the background are pyramids. ..."--British Museum online catalogue.

Science in the pillory

English

October 15, 2009