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Egyptian Sketches, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1799 (hand-coloured etching)
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Egyptian Sketches, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1799 (hand-coloured etching)
NCO190153 Egyptian Sketches, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1799 (hand-coloured etching) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Courtesy of the Warden and Scholars of New College, Oxford; (add.info.: reference to Napoleon Bonapartes (1769-1821) campaign in Egypt; Frenchman depicted as a monkey clambering up a pyramid; being chased by a jester; staff with the head of a donkey; ); English, out of copyright
Media ID 23223736
© Bridgeman Images
Bicorn Bonnet Rouge Climbing Clown Cockade Conquering Dagger Desert Exotic French Revolutionary Wars Invasion Phrygian Cap Political Satire Red Sash Scaling Simian Sphinx Tricolour
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This hand-coloured etching, titled "Egyptian Sketches" is a captivating piece of political satire published by Hannah Humphrey in 1799. Created by the renowned artist James Gillray, this artwork offers a humorous commentary on Napoleon Bonaparte's campaign in Egypt during the French Revolutionary Wars. In the foreground, we see a Frenchman depicted as a mischievous monkey, clad in a red sash and wearing a bonnet rouge. He frantically climbs up an ancient pyramid while being pursued by a jester wielding a staff with the head of a donkey. The monkey's expression reveals his fear and desperation as he tries to escape. The scene is filled with symbolic elements that add depth to its meaning. A tricolour flag flutters atop the pyramid, representing France's revolutionary ideals. An inscription on one side reads "conquering" alluding to Napoleon's ambitions for expansion. Meanwhile, an entwined tail suggests both unity and deception within the French military ranks. Gillray masterfully combines caricature and exotic imagery to convey his satirical message. The presence of nude figures adds an element of shock value while highlighting vulnerability and naked ambition amidst the desert landscape. Overall, this engraving serves as both entertainment and social critique, offering viewers insight into contemporary political events through clever visual storytelling. It remains an important historical artifact that showcases Gillray's talent for capturing complex themes in his satirical works.
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