'The hand-writing upon the wall' Greetings Card
Blank greetings card with envelope featuring:
'The hand-writing upon the wall' NPG D12820
© National Portrait Gallery, London
by and published by James Gillray
In developing his caricature as a bitingly effective political tool which worked on a number of levels, Gillray often made mock-heroic reference to biblical stories and high art. This invasion-scare print of August 1803 was made in response to Napoleon's recent boast that he needed only three days of fog to be master of London. The Emperor, a grossly fat Josephine and their coterie, including Napoleon's three scantily-clad sisters, devour a feast of iced English buildings. Behind the Emperor stand three grenadiers with bloodied sabres,... more
Card size: 125mm x 175mm
Images are printed in their original proportions, within a white border.










