Maniac-ravings, or, Little Boney in a strong fit

In a fit of madness or of rage, Napoleon stands in the center of the image tearing his hair and stamping his feet. Here Napoleon is both infantalized by the tantrum, and shown as insane. His eyes bulge from their deeply-shadowed sockets, his hair covers his head in a thick nest, and his grimacing mouth and grinding teeth highlight the expression in his angular face. In his fit, Napoleon has broken his sword in two. Comically, the traditional attributes of Napoleon--his hat, boots, uniform, and sword--are drawn larger than life. This adds to the sense that Napoleon is a stubborn child trying on the clothing of an adult. Having taken leave of his reason, Napoleon has overturned his writing desk, his armchair and a terrestrial globe which has cracked so that the European continent is obliterated. The disorder of Napoleon's mind is echoed by the disorder of the papers that litter the ground. Scrolls and bunches of paper are scattered over the floor, the inscriptions on these sheets mirrors the tirade of exclamations and curses that radiate around Napoleon's head. This print is in poor condition. It has darkened significantly with age and shows staining around the edges of the sheet. In addition, there is a large tear on the upper left portion that has been partly mended with tape on the verso. Even so, this is one of Gillray's best known prints, and, despite the damage it remains an excellent record of the artist's skill. In a fit of madness or of rage, Napoleon stands in the center of the image tearing his hair and stamping his feet. Here Napoleon is both infantalized by the tantrum, and shown as insane. His eyes bulge from their deeply-shadowed sockets, his hair covers his head in a thick nest, and his grimacing mouth and grinding teeth highlight the expression in his angular face. In his fit, Napoleon has broken his sword in two. Comically, the traditional attributes of Napoleon--his hat, boots, uniform, and sword--are drawn larger than life. This adds to the sense that Napoleon is a stubborn child trying on the clothing of an adult. Having taken leave of his reason, Napoleon has overturned his writing desk, his armchair and a terrestrial globe which has cracked so that the European continent is obliterated. The disorder of Napoleon's mind is echoed by the disorder of the papers that litter the ground. Scrolls and bunches of paper are scattered over the floor, the inscriptions on these sheets mirrors the tirade of exclamations and curses that radiate around Napoleon's head. This print is in poor condition. It has darkened significantly with age and shows staining around the edges of the sheet. In addition, there is a large tear on the upper left portion that has been partly mended with tape on the verso. Even so, this is one of Gillray's best known prints, and, despite the damage it remains an excellent record of the artist's skill. Caption: Vide Lord W---, account of a Visit to y Tuilleries. Dialogue: "O Diable the Riches! Freedom! & Happiness, of the British Nation!!! ha Diable! Diable! Diable!" Dialogue: "Malta! Malta! Malta! / Oh cursed Liberty of y British Press! / Insolence of British Parliament /Treaty of Amiens!--damnation/British Trade & Commerce! Oh! Oh! Oh! / English calumniating Newspapers! / O Sebastiani! Sebastiani, Oh! / Georges! Arras! de Rolle! Dutheil! O Assassins!! / Treason! Treason! Treason! / hated & betray'd by the French! Despised by the English! & Laughed at by the whole World!!! Oh English Newspapers!!! / English Newspapers!!! / English Newspapers!" Dialogue: "O Egypt! Egypt! Egypt! / Oh St. Domingo! Oh! / Oh! the Liberty of the British Press / English Blood-hounds! / Wyndham! Grenville! Pitt! / Oh! I'm Murdered! I'm Assassinated!! / London Newspapers! Oh! Oh! Oh! / Revenge! Revenge! / come Fire! Sword! Famine! Invasion! Invasion! / Four Hunderd & Eighty Thousand Frenchmen / British Slavery & everlasting Chains! / everlasting chains!" Printed Signature: J. Gillray inv. & fect., Pubd. May 24th , 1803 by Js Gillray, St James Street.