Napoleonic Wars POLITICAL SATIRE CARICATURE Lithograph

A rare Prussian political cartoon caricature of Napoleon Bonaparte dating from the period 1810 to 1815.

Every so often, something so truly rare and amazing comes along we know we will never see anything like it again. We present a rare lithograph of Napoleon Bonaparte from the point of view of Prussia. With a capture in German, this cartoon depicts Napoleon caught between the political influences of Czarist Russia and the empire of Spain.

Napoleon Bonaparte lived from 1769 until 1821 is considered by many to be one of the greatest military leaders of all time. He was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815 and is best remembered for his role in the wars led against France by a series of coalitions, the so-called Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon established hegemony over much of Europe and is considered one of the most influential figures of his time. During the period of 1810 through 1830, Napoleon was one of the most popular subjects of political satire, even after his death in 1821.

Most surviving lithographs are English or French. This one is in German, most likely produced in 1810 or so, in Prussia. The caption reads "Do you want some Spanish Bitters? Do you want some Russian ice? Oh no! That one's too cold and the other's too hot!" This is a reference to Napoleon's political dealings, inferring he was caught between fire and water, an old saying of the time to show he was in a precarious situation. It is a classic representation of anti-Napoleonic satire.

This cartoon is at least 180 years old, and while there is some predictable wear, stains, and foxing around the edges, the cartoon itself is crisp and clear, with only a few stain spots on the cartoon itself. The paper was obviously stored folded in four, and there are fold marks reflecting this. The lower right-hand corner is dog eared, but was smoothed out long ago. This lithograph is is truly remarkable condition and is a genuine piece of history, preserved very carefully over the centuries. The drawing is so rich that one can even make out the details of the plate of snow held by the Russian character and the shine on Napoleon's boots, as well as the medals on his chest. The print measures 8 1/4 inches wide and is 9 3/4 inches high.

This lithograph is rare, not only because it covers a famous period in history, but also for the fact that this is one of the very few Prussian caricatures to survive to this day. Properly framed, this piece would make a unique and valuable acquisition for history buffs, especially those collecting Napoleon-era memorabilia.

Check out the HUGE selection of items in our eBay store, just click here!

NY