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The Bombardment of All the Thrones of Europe and the Fall of the Tyrants for the Happiness of the Universe (Bombardement de Tous les Trônes de l'Europe et la Chûte des Tyrans pour la Bonheur de l'Univers)

ca. 1792
Not on view
Empress Catherine II of Russia made several unsuccessful attempts to organize military expeditions against Revolutionary France. Bare-breasted, she rides here atop a group of cowering world leaders and cries, "Return, you cowards, and I will make you all bite the dust...how I regret my poor rubles!" One of the monarchs turning away below states, "This sickness of the French will cost me my throne." Among the crowd are William Pitt, the chief minister of England, and the pope. All are under attack by the forces of the French Revolution across the way. Liberty stands atop a fortress mounted by three tiers of bare-bottomed deputies of the National Assembly - a literal reference to the sans-culottes (no-britches), the working-class radicals of the French Revolution. Liberty lights a cannon that fires into the rear of King Louis XVI and forces him to vomit vetoes. The rows of buttocks spew "Liberté" as well as "Ça ira," the refrain of a notorious Revolutionary song with lyrics including the phrase "We will hang the aristocrats." A large Prussian eagle attempting to shield the monarch with a crown apologizes, "But for these sans-culottes dogs, I would protect you."

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Bombardment of All the Thrones of Europe and the Fall of the Tyrants for the Happiness of the Universe (Bombardement de Tous les Trônes de l'Europe et la Chûte des Tyrans pour la Bonheur de l'Univers)
  • Artist: Anonymous, French, 18th century
  • Date: ca. 1792
  • Medium: Hand-colored etching
  • Dimensions: sheet: 9 3/4 x 15 7/16 in. (24.8 x 39.2 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1962
  • Object Number: 62.520.167
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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