John Bull playing on the base villain

Piercy Roberts

John Bull playing on the base villain

London, Thomas Tegg Jan 1^st 1807

Etching

Original hand colouring

335 x 255 mm

£280

John Bull sits holding against his knee Napoleon, an elongated puppet, in the position of a bass viol (viol da gamba). His left hand holds the elongated neck; in his right. is a sword, which he draws like a bow across his instrument’s body. Napoleon is in profile, facing John, his mouth wide open, as if throttled; he holds a sword limply in his left hand. He wears military uniform with large feathered bicorne. John’s hat and wig lie on the ground; he is a prosperous ‘cit’ in old-fashioned dress, and looks towards the spectator with a satisfied smile. ‘Britons strike home’ is engraved above his head.