A fiery demon representing the chaos of the Paris Commune and more generally, the infernal results of the ideals of the French Revolution. Coloured etching by G. Cruikshank, 1871.

  • Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878.
Date:
June 1871
Reference:
18167i
  • Pictures
  • Online

Available online

view A fiery demon representing the chaos of the Paris Commune and more generally, the infernal results of the ideals of the French Revolution. Coloured etching by G. Cruikshank, 1871.

Public Domain Mark

You can use this work for any purpose without restriction under copyright law. Read more about this licence.

Credit

A fiery demon representing the chaos of the Paris Commune and more generally, the infernal results of the ideals of the French Revolution. Coloured etching by G. Cruikshank, 1871. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Selected images from this work

View 1 image

About this work

Publication/Creation

London : George Cruikshank; London (Strand) : W. Tweedie; London (King St., Covent Garden) : J. Paul; London (St James's St., Pall Mall) : F. Harvey, June 1871.

Physical description

1 print : etching, with watercolour

Lettering

The leader, of the Parisian blood red republic, or the infernal fiend! Liberty, equality, fraternity. Atheism or a disbelief in a God. Seizure of all property and death to all who oppose the red republic ... Lettering continues: An awful lesson to the world for all time to come! The blood red cap of liberty manufactured in 1789 and made red with blood in 1790-91-92-93. [Being blown out of creature's mouth:] Blasphemy. Ignorance. Foolery. Ignorance. Folly. Blasphemy. [On bottles on belt:] Brandy. Petroleum. [At bottom of image:] Fifty thousand slaughtered dead bodies of men women & children, lying in Paris at the end of May 1871 & part of the city destroyed by fire !!!. [Text under image:] For no deeds more fiendish, were ever perpetrated in the history of man, than those committed & caused by the "red republicans" in the late revolt. It was these ignorant drunken brutes who in a great measure, brought about the war with Germany, which has ended in the dishonor of their country in tens of thousands of their fellow countrymen being killed or wounded & also the death or injury of many women & children, and by their insane attempt to hold Paris & rule France, they have further caused the slaughter of thousands of men, women & children - as well as the destruction of their city & many of its treasures and by misleading women & driving them mad with drink, have caused them to act in such a way, that the enraged soldiers in their fury, have shot down & slaughtered women of Paris, young & old! as if they were wild beasts!!!- As there is a "red republican" party in this country, some national means should be taken to show these mistaken men that - such plans if carried out, would not only destroy the laws of civilized society but also be subverting the laws of nature. And therefore a law should be passed to make it criminal for such insane principles to be advocated

Reference

Wellcome Collection 18167i

Type/Technique

Languages

Where to find it

  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores

Permanent link