DAVID, Jacques-Louis
(b. 1748, Paris, d. 1825, Bruxelles)

The English Government

1794
Hand coloured etching, 248 x 392 mm
Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

Painting occupied only a fraction of David's time during the Revolution. He also made designs for civic uniforms, for money and official seals and even produced two crudely drawn and vulgar caricatures that mocked the English. Since the Revolution his views on the English had clearly changed and he no longer felt them to be the epitome of a free nation. According to the print's caption the English government 'is personified by the figure of a Devil skinned alive, monopolizing commerce and covered with all the Royal decorations. The portrait of the king is located at the rear end of the government which vomits on its people a myriad of taxes which overwhelm them.'




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