The Hand-Writing upon the Wall

The Hand-Writing upon the Wall

‘The Hand-Writing upon the Wall’ depicts Napoleon presiding at a feast with Josephine on his left. Emerging from the clouds above him, a pair of scales is held: one, inscribed ‘Vive le Roi,’ contains a crown and outweighs the other, ‘Despotism,’ which flies in the air spilling shackles and a bonnet rouge. The use of the scales here is to denote the eventual British victory over France. However, had the contents of the ‘Despotism’ scale been held within, it is likely that the scales would have been balances, thus again emphasizing the equal vulgarities of the British and French forces.

James Gillray

The British Museum

James Gillray

Published 24 August 1803 in London

The British Museum

© Trustees of the British Museum

Hand-colored etching and aquatint

Image: 25.3 x 35.4 cm

Still Images