Nap and his Friends in their Glory

Thomas Rowlandson

Nap and his Friends in their Glory

London, R Ackerman Oct 1^st 1808

Etching

Original hand colouring

260 x 350 mm

£450

The friends of ‘Nap’ are Death, a skeleton, the Devil, a monster with webbed wings and barbed tail, and Joseph Bonaparte. They sit drinking at an oblong table, Death at the head (r.), facing Joseph, and with Napoleon on his right., the Devil on his left. seated on a stool. Napoleon stands in profile to the left., giving a toast, “Come Gentlemen – here is Success to Plunder and Massacre.” Death and the Devil prepare to drink, but Joseph sits glumly, his elbows on the table, supporting his chin on his fists. On the table are decanters, one labelled ‘Champagne’. Behind Napoleon’s head hangs a ‘View of Malmaison’ with tiny foreground figures: the Devil and Napoleon clasping hands. Below the title verses are engraved, ‘Tune Drops of Brand’:
“I Nap
These Spaniards are terrible rogues
They will not submit to my fetters,
With patience so gracefully worn
Nay sought for by Nations their betters
But let us return to the charge,
And no longer with lenity treat them
Once get them to lay down their arms
And Til warrant brave boys we shall beat them
Rum ti iddidy… [&c.].
Death
Brother ‘Boney’ we’ll never despair
A trusty good friend I have found you
Kill plunder and burn and destroy
And deal desolation around you
Then gaily lets push round the glass
We’ll sing and we’ll riot and revel
And I’m sure we shall have on our side
Our very good friend here the Devil! Rum… [&c.].
The Devil
Believe me friend Death you are right
Although Im an ugly old fellow,
When mischief is getting afloat,
O then I am jolly and mellow
As soon as these Spaniards are crush’d
Again we’ll be merry and sing Sirs
And that we will quickly accomplish,
And ‘Joey’ here he shall be ‘King’ Sirs Rum… [&c.].
Don Joey
Excuse me from lending my aid
You may jointly persue them and spike them
But lately I’ve seen them – and own
If I speak the plain truth I dont like them
They ‘Liberty’ cherish so dear
That they constantly make her their guide O
Who please may make themselves ‘King’
But may I be d-d if I do. Rum… [&c.].