Introduction of Citizen Volpone & his suite, at Paris

Napoleon sits on an ostentatious throne ornamented with gold embroidery and carved figures that support terrestrial globes. He wears the uniform and plumed hat of the First Consul, yet his bearing and manner is decidedly regal. Further recalling the splendor of the absolute monarchy of Louis XIV, a symbol of the sun hanging behind the dais stares down at Napoleon. Additionally, the elegance of Napoleon's uniform, in particular his heeled shoes, recall the ego and the excesses of Louis XIV, whom Napoleon admired. Napoleon grandly extends his left hand toward Fox and his delegation, who bow in homage to the First Consul. Fox's wife, caricatured as a great orb of a woman, here occupies the center of the image. Mrs Fox's round face is covered with black patches that call attention to her unattractive pug nose and irregular smile. Fox stands at her left in profile. He has removed his hat and places his right hand on his chest as he bows. His stout figure blends into the bulk of his wife's body, while his bag wig obstinately stands straight up at the back of his neck. Seditious papers, inscribed "Original Jacobin Manu-scripts," stick out of his coat pocket and suggest his loyalty to the ideals of the French Revolution. Wearing the garb of a lawyer and holding a brief bag, Erskine stands behind Fox and bends his reedy body over Fox's in the direction of Napoleon. Lord and Lady Holland stand behind him and bow, lightly inclining themselves towards the throne. At the far right of the image, a prostrate figure, Bob Adair, offers his scrawny body to Napoleon. Two bundles of paper emerge from either of his coat pockets. The papers in his right pocket are labeled, "Revolutionary Odes by Citizen Bow-ba-dara"; those in the left are inscribed "Intelligence for the Morning Chronicle." O'Connor stands at Mrs. Fox's right and bows toward Napoleon with his hat tucked under his arm. Like the other politicians, his coat pocket bulges with a sheaf of papers labeled "Trial of O'Connor at Maid[stone]." Four Mamelukes stand guard; one on Napoleon's right, and three others at his left. All four have their swords raised and wear eastern style dress. Comically, the guard standing behind Mrs. Fox has his eyes opened wide in shock and disgust. This sheet has been closely trimmed at the edges and shows signs of staining and darkening with age. On the verso, the remnants of paste are visible. Napoleon sits on an ostentatious throne ornamented with gold embroidery and carved figures that support terrestrial globes. He wears the uniform and plumed hat of the First Consul, yet his bearing and manner is decidedly regal. Further recalling the splendor of the absolute monarchy of Louis XIV, a symbol of the sun hanging behind the dais stares down at Napoleon. Additionally, the elegance of Napoleon's uniform, in particular his heeled shoes, recall the ego and the excesses of Louis XIV, whom Napoleon admired. Napoleon grandly extends his left hand toward Fox and his delegation, who bow in homage to the First Consul. Fox's wife, caricatured as a great orb of a woman, here occupies the center of the image. Mrs Fox's round face is covered with black patches that call attention to her unattractive pug nose and irregular smile. Fox stands at her left in profile. He has removed his hat and places his right hand on his chest as he bows. His stout figure blends into the bulk of his wife's body, while his bag wig obstinately stands straight up at the back of his neck. Seditious papers, inscribed "Original Jacobin Manu-scripts," stick out of his coat pocket and suggest his loyalty to the ideals of the French Revolution. Wearing the garb of a lawyer and holding a brief bag, Erskine stands behind Fox and bends his reedy body over Fox's in the direction of Napoleon. Lord and Lady Holland stand behind him and bow, lightly inclining themselves towards the throne. At the far right of the image, a prostrate figure, Bob Adair, offers his scrawny body to Napoleon. Two bundles of paper emerge from either of his coat pockets. The papers in his right pocket are labeled, "Revolutionary Odes by Citizen Bow-ba-dara"; those in the left are inscribed "Intelligence for the Morning Chronicle." O'Connor stands at Mrs. Fox's right and bows toward Napoleon with his hat tucked under his arm. Like the other politicians, his coat pocket bulges with a sheaf of papers labeled "Trial of O'Connor at Maid[stone]." Four Mamelukes stand guard; one on Napoleon's right, and three others at his left. All four have their swords raised and wear eastern style dress. Comically, the guard standing behind Mrs. Fox has his eyes opened wide in shock and disgust. This sheet has been closely trimmed at the edges and shows signs of staining and darkening with age. On the verso, the remnants of paste are visible. Published by Hannah Humphrey. Mary George notes that this image was made to satirize the visit made by Fox, Erskine, Holland, Adair and O'Connor to France, where they were introduced to Napoleon at a levee on Sept. 3, shortly after Napoleon was named First Consul for life. For a copy of this image published in 'London und Paris,' see Broadley 466. For other images of the same subject, see Broadley 308. 1802-11-15 Printed Signature: James Gillray invt. & fect. Text: Vide, The Moniteur, & Cobbetts Letters