Buonaparte at Rome giving audience in state

The Pope, accompanied by a troupe of cardinals and priests, enters the scene from the left of the sheet to pay mandatory homage to Napoleon. Bringing gifts of statuettes, crucifixes, and relics like the keys of St. Peter, "Mary Magdalene's Cracked Pitcher," and the "Vn Mary's Peticoat" they are treated rudely by a shabbily dressed Napoleon and his equally rag-tag guards. Deeply humiliated, the Pope bows at Napoleon's feet while the cardinals and priests surrounding him look angrily at the French soldiers who urge them forward. Napoleon, seated on a throne at the right of the sheet, grins grotesquely and tightly crosses his arms across his chest. While this sheet pokes fun at the relics and pomp of Roman Catholicism, it also depicts Napoleon as a impudent despot who has no respect for any form of religion. Napoleon places his foot on the Pope's head, knocking his mitre off and forcing him to lower himself further. A soldier, standing in shadow behind his throne, relieves himself into a vessel of "Holy Water." Note that in the lower right corner of the image text has been carefully scratched out and is now illegible. The Pope, accompanied by a troupe of cardinals and priests, enters the scene from the left of the sheet to pay mandatory homage to Napoleon. Bringing gifts of statuettes, crucifixes, and relics like the keys of St. Peter, "Mary Magdalene's Cracked Pitcher," and the "Vn Mary's Peticoat" they are treated rudely by a shabbily dressed Napoleon and his equally rag-tag guards. Deeply humiliated, the Pope bows at Napoleon's feet while the cardinals and priests surrounding him look angrily at the French soldiers who urge them forward. Napoleon, seated on a throne at the right of the sheet, grins grotesquely and tightly crosses his arms across his chest. While this sheet pokes fun at the relics and pomp of Roman Catholicism, it also depicts Napoleon as a impudent despot who has no respect for any form of religion. Napoleon places his foot on the Pope's head, knocking his mitre off and forcing him to lower himself further. A soldier, standing in shadow behind his throne, relieves himself into a vessel of "Holy Water." Note that in the lower right corner of the image text has been carefully scratched out and is now illegible. Published by Fores, 1797-03-12. According to Broadley, this is the first English caricature published against Napoleon Bonaparte. Notably, Napoleon is not drawn as 'Little Boney' in this image. Rather than satirizing his reported diminutive height, Issac Cruikshank has chosen instead to capitalize on Napoleon's rude behavior and tattered uniform. From her historical research, Margaret George notes: 'There were reports in February 1797 that Napoleon was in Rome; he entered Ancona, 5, Feb., and demanded a plenipotentiary from Rome.' These reports of Napoleon's entry into Rome are false since in reality, Napoleon never made it to the city. Dialogue: Napoleon: "I say remember to take off your hat when you wait on a Gemman!!! There kiss that you foutre."