Mercury lies dying from cholera, surrounded by ministers; representing the sickly state of the French economy in the 1830s. Coloured etching, c. 1832.

Date:
[1832]
Reference:
16429i
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view Mercury lies dying from cholera, surrounded by ministers; representing the sickly state of the French economy in the 1830s. Coloured etching, c. 1832.

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Mercury lies dying from cholera, surrounded by ministers; representing the sickly state of the French economy in the 1830s. Coloured etching, c. 1832. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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Description

Cholera is referred to here as 'cholera morbus'. The minister of justice administers a 'lavement', a euphemism for enema, marked 'juste milieu', the ironic term for Louis Philippe's disingenuous attempt at a lowest common denominator between republicanism and monarchy. Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, holds the caduceus (the wand entwined with two snakes), in his right hand

Publication/Creation

[Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], [1832]

Physical description

1 print : etching, with watercolour ; image 24.7 x 37.8 cm

Contributors

Lettering

Le commerce attaqué du choléra morbus et traité par le ministère ... Lettering continues: La Papillote (journal) Dans le fond plusieurs membres du grand hospice se préparanta le frictionner. Le Mtre. des finances lui prescrivant une potion à prendre tous les 6 mois. Un petit diplomate apportant un consommé. Le Mtre. de la guerre lui faisant une saignée abondante. Un grand maréchal contemplant son agonie. R.I.P. Le Mtre. de l'interieur lui appliquant un cataplasme sur la poitrine. Le Mtre. des affaires étrangères apportant force stimulants. Le Mtre. de la justice préparant un lavement. Des bons pères priant pour le repos de son âme. [On arch:] Au chinois. no. 1. [Left-hand sheet of paper:] Nouvel emprunt de 50 mille pillule ame. [Right-hand sheet:] Route...fer d'Anvers a Cologne. [On boxes:] Anve... Gand. [Man carrying bouquet of slips of paper:] 24 articles. Protocols. Ratifications. Evacuation. 200 protocols. Luxem... Mastrec... [Written on clyster and bucket of water:] Juste milieu. Bears number: 1

Reference

Wellcome Collection 16429i

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