The Royal Allied Oak and Self-Created Mushroom Kings
This puzzle print contains hidden profiles of George III, Louis XVIII, The Prince Regent, The King of Russia, Wellington and Blucher outlined against an oak tree, with profiles of Napoleon Bonaparte and three of his brothers hidden in mushrooms and weeds below. Those in the tree represent Britain and her allies, those on the ground, their enemies. When this print was published in late May 1815, Napoleon had escaped from exile on the island of Elba and was consolidating his army even as the opposing nations marshalled theirs. The Battle of Waterloo would be fought on June 18, 1815.
Artwork Details
- Title: The Royal Allied Oak and Self-Created Mushroom Kings
- Artist: (?) William Heath ('Paul Pry') (British, Northumbria 1794/95–1840 Hampstead)
- Artist: After John M. Field (British, 1781–1841)
- Publisher: James Jenkins (British, active 1814–19)
- Subject: George III, King of Great Britain and Ireland (British, London 1738–1820 Windsor)
- Subject: Louis XVIII, King of France (French, Versailles 1755–1824 Paris)
- Subject: George, Prince of Wales (British, London 1762–1830 Windsor)
- Subject: Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher
- Subject: Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (British, 1769–1852)
- Subject: Alexander I, of Russia (Russian, St. Petersburg 1777–1825 Tagonrog)
- Subject: Napoléon Bonaparte (French, Ajaccio 1769–1821 St. Helena)
- Date: May 29, 1815
- Medium: Hand-colored etching
- Dimensions: Plate: 11 13/16 × 8 11/16 in. (30 × 22 cm)
Sheet: 14 15/16 × 10 13/16 in. (38 × 27.4 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: The Glenn Tilley Morse Collection, Bequest of Glenn Tilley Morse, 1950
- Object Number: 50.602.200
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
William Heath ('Paul Pry')
S. Gans
1830
William Heath ('Paul Pry')
Thomas McLean
1827–29
Multiple artists/makers
1827–29
William Heath ('Paul Pry')
Thomas McLean
1828–29
William Heath ('Paul Pry')
Thomas McLean
1828
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.