Buonapartes menagerie

Napoleon (center) escorts a group of well-dressed visitors (l.) through his zoo. The men listen attentively and with great interest as Napoleon, zoo keeper and showman, proudly gestures towards his collection. At the left of the group, a woman wearing slightly unfashionable clothing clutches a sheet of paper advertising the spectacle. This reference indicates that the visitors are provincial tourists intent on seeing London sights. On the right of the sheet, the animals are stacked in cages one on top of the other. Offering commentary on the state of Europe, the captured animals, representing various European countries, appear subdued, except the "Spanish Macaws, lately caught," which begin to pry open the bars to their cage. Two large cages behind Napoleon have yet to be occupied by Russian Bears and the English Lion. Napoleon (center) escorts a group of well-dressed visitors (l.) through his zoo. The men listen attentively and with great interest as Napoleon, zoo keeper and showman, proudly gestures towards his collection. At the left of the group, a woman wearing slightly unfashionable clothing clutches a sheet of paper advertising the spectacle. This reference indicates that the visitors are provincial tourists intent on seeing London sights. On the right of the sheet, the animals are stacked in cages one on top of the other. Offering commentary on the state of Europe, the captured animals, representing various European countries, appear subdued, except the "Spanish Macaws, lately caught," which begin to pry open the bars to their cage. Two large cages behind Napoleon have yet to be occupied by Russian Bears and the English Lion. Published by Walker, Cornhill, 1808-11-00. British Museum, BM 11055. This caricature is not listed in Broadley. Alphabetically, it falls between nos. 165 and 166. Caption: Pubd. Novem. 1808 by Walker No. 7 Cornhill Dialogue: Napoleon: "Walk in Ladies and Gentlemen, here they are--the finest collection in Europe, and perfectly tame--their Dens are all labell'd. The dens empty behind me are to hold two Russians Bears and the famous English Lion, the two first will be here very soon, the other I cannot say when I cah promise you the sight of him, he is so fierce an Animal that hitherto I have not been able to secure him either by force or stratagem. Dialogue: Visitor: "I think you Spanish Macaws will give you the slip if you don't take great care, Master Keeper!!" Label(s): Animals: "Dutch Frog," "Austrian Goose," "Prussian Eagle," "Swiss Ninnyhammer," "Bavarian Mouse," "Spanish Macaws, lately caught," "Wirtemburg Porpoise," "A Variety of Curoius animals from the Rhine."