1814 Dutch Caricature of Napoleon
At first glance – or rather, at first face – this might appear to be a simple portrait, but a closer look reveals a wealth of peculiar and symbolic details.
This satirical cartoon depicts Napoleon Bonaparte and criticizes his violent dictatorship. The original image was created by the German artist Johann Michael Voltz to commemorate Napoleon’s crushing defeat at the Battle of Leipzig. It was based on a portrait sketch by Heinrich Anton Dähling. Hidden within the portrait are numerous allegorical messages: his black hat, for example, is actually a German eagle gripping Napoleon’s head with its talons. His facial features are made up of corpses—victims of his brutal ambition—and the medal of the Legion of Honor is replaced by a spider and its web.
As the image spread across Europe, it was translated into many languages, including English, French, Spanish, Swedish, and Dutch. While the interpretation of the symbolism varied by country, the overall message remained consistent.
This particular example is a Dutch version, accompanied by a poem explaining the symbolism. It was published in Amsterdam in 1814 by Evert Maaskamp, under the title “Zeldzaam Beeld van den Geweldenaar” (Peculiar Image of the Violent).
The poem reads:
“The Prussian Eagle is the Hat who, clinging to it,
does not release its grasp of the head which it destines to fall.
The Corpses, which are the proof of his ambition,
victimised by the hundreds of thousands, form the features
of the face. The Collar represents the stream of Blood
with which the monster fed itself generously.
The Coat, a map, is marked at each place
with the loss of battles his pride never bargained for.
The dissolved Rhine Confederation threw off the reign of terror.
Even without the name of Erfurt, one can declare the Red Ribbon—
the brilliant badge of the Legion of Honour—nothing more than
a cobweb, the thread of which can easily be broken,
covering in a ridiculous manner the whole Rhenish alliance.
In the Epaulette is discovered the hand of the Almighty,
tearing up the web that enslaved Germany,
where he crushes the spider whose poisonous power,
spread across the world, taunts God no longer.
The Spider occupies the place of the absent heart.”
This rare piece comes in its original antique mahogany frame, which also displays the poem behind glass on the reverse.
It would make a striking and meaningful addition to any historical or Napoleonic-era collection.
Despite being over 200 years old, the caricature remains in good condition, though it does show some signs of age. The paper has developed a discolored patina, which adds historical charm rather than detracting from it. The glass cover on the back has some rough edges, consistent with its age.
Measurements:
Caricature: 14 x 9.5 cm
Height frame: 25.5 cm
Width frame: 18.5 cm
