Mock auction, or, Boney selling stolen goods

Depicted in full-length profile, Napoleon stands on an auctioneer's podium placed on the left side of the image. Behind him, Marie-Louise--who is quite voluptuous--holds the semi-simian infant King of Rome and approaches the podium. The audience at the auction is made up of two groups of people. French officers and soldiers watch with dismay while figures representing various European countries excitedly participate in the sales. The current item up for bid is the Crown of Spain. Holding a gavel in his right hand, Napoleon uses his left to gesture towards a French officer who displays the crown, lifting it high above his head. A scroll of paper on which is inscribed "Speedily will be sold the Thirteen Cantons of Switser-Land", indicates the next item up for bid. Among the figures attending the auction, the caricatured Spanish Don, dressed in slashed sleeves and a plumed hat, is the most animated. A British sailor, with his arm draped over a portly Dutchman smoking a pipe, exclaims in derision: "That a CROWN! It's not worth half a Crown." Piles of Crowns and paper lots or deeds of kingdoms are strewn on the floor at the lower left of the image. Among them are: Kingdom of Bavaria, United Provinces, Saxony, Kingdom of Westphalia, Kingdom of Prussia. Additional lots include: Lot of Useless Eagles, and, Lot 2, Twenty flags the property of the Empress. Oddly, this image depicts Napoleon returning, or reselling crowns and kingdoms to impoverished monarchs in the wake of allied victories. This sheet shows signs of wear--the pigments have faded and the sheet has been wrinkled. Additionally, there are several mended tears at the upper right of the sheet. Depicted in full-length profile, Napoleon stands on an auctioneer's podium placed on the left side of the image. Behind him, Marie-Louise--who is quite voluptuous--holds the semi-simian infant King of Rome and approaches the podium. The audience at the auction is made up of two groups of people. French officers and soldiers watch with dismay while figures representing various European countries excitedly participate in the sales. The current item up for bid is the Crown of Spain. Holding a gavel in his right hand, Napoleon uses his left to gesture towards a French officer who displays the crown, lifting it high above his head. A scroll of paper on which is inscribed "Speedily will be sold the Thirteen Cantons of Switser-Land", indicates the next item up for bid. Among the figures attending the auction, the caricatured Spanish Don, dressed in slashed sleeves and a plumed hat, is the most animated. A British sailor, with his arm draped over a portly Dutchman smoking a pipe, exclaims in derision: "That a CROWN! It's not worth half a Crown." Piles of Crowns and paper lots or deeds of kingdoms are strewn on the floor at the lower left of the image. Among them are: Kingdom of Bavaria, United Provinces, Saxony, Kingdom of Westphalia, Kingdom of Prussia. Additional lots include: Lot of Useless Eagles, and, Lot 2, Twenty flags the property of the Empress. Oddly, this image depicts Napoleon returning, or reselling crowns and kingdoms to impoverished monarchs in the wake of allied victories. This sheet shows signs of wear--the pigments have faded and the sheet has been wrinkled. Additionally, there are several mended tears at the upper right of the sheet. Although unsigned by the artist, both George and Broadley securely attribute this sheet to Thomas Rowlandson. Caption: Pubd December 25th 1813 by R. Ackermann No 101 Strand Dialogue: King of Rome to Marie-Louise: "I suppose daddy will put us up for sale." Dialogue: Napoleon: "What no bidding for the Crown of Spain. Then take the other crowns and lump them into one lot." Dialogue: That a crown! It's not worth half a crown Inscription: Pubd. December 25th 1813 by R. Ackermann No. 101 Strand.