Buonaparté leaving Egypt

This image is one of many that emphasizes Napoleon's ruthless abandonment of his French troops in Egypt. Here, he is depicted in an embroidered green uniform coat, wearing a conspicuous tri-color sash, and his hands are covered by elegant gloves. Yet his head is bare and his face is covered with dark stubble, lending him an uncouth appearance. To Napoleon's right, a boat with a Janus-faced figurehead waits to take him to a large ship that will carry him back to France. Two grotesqued French soldiers have already boarded the rowboat. While they wait for Napoleon to climb aboard, they grin and clutch sacks filled with money. As Napoleon steps towards the boat, he looks back over his left shoulder toward the French encampment. In the distance, several tiny, skeletal figures wave their arms and call out to Napoleon as they run across the sand. Just beyond the French tents a large, well-ordered encampment flying flags marked with crescent flags looms on the horizon. As if to justify his departure, Napoleon gestures to a vision that appears in the sky. Heralded by the winged creature of Fame, the vision consists of two imperial symbols, the crown and scepter, superimposed on a revolutionary symbol, the fasces and ax. Fame removes the trumpet from her lips, smiles cynically, and points downward to Napoleon, who is directly below her. This image is one of many that emphasizes Napoleon's ruthless abandonment of his French troops in Egypt. Here, he is depicted in an embroidered green uniform coat, wearing a conspicuous tri-color sash, and his hands are covered by elegant gloves. Yet his head is bare and his face is covered with dark stubble, lending him an uncouth appearance. To Napoleon's right, a boat with a Janus-faced figurehead waits to take him to a large ship that will carry him back to France. Two grotesqued French soldiers have already boarded the rowboat. While they wait for Napoleon to climb aboard, they grin and clutch sacks filled with money. As Napoleon steps towards the boat, he looks back over his left shoulder toward the French encampment. In the distance, several tiny, skeletal figures wave their arms and call out to Napoleon as they run across the sand. Just beyond the French tents a large, well-ordered encampment flying flags marked with crescent flags looms on the horizon. As if to justify his departure, Napoleon gestures to a vision that appears in the sky. Heralded by the winged creature of Fame, the vision consists of two imperial symbols, the crown and scepter, superimposed on a revolutionary symbol, the fasces and ax. Fame removes the trumpet from her lips, smiles cynically, and points downward to Napoleon, who is directly below her. Published by Humphrey. The text located at the bottom of the sheet, underneath the title, indicates that the impetus for this satire derived from letters intercepted in the Mediterranean and subsequently printed in the British papers. George notes that this was the third time French military letters were thus confiscated and that the publication of these letters was met with much interest and scandal. 1800-03-08 Caption: "For an illustration of the above, see, the Intercepted Letters from the Republican General Kleber, to the French Directory, respecting the Courage, Honor, & Patriotic-Views of--"the Deserter of the Army of Egypt."" Caption: Publish'd March 8th 1800 by H. Humphrey, No 27 St James's Street London