Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Apotheosis of the Corsican-Phoenix / Js. Gillray invt. & fect.

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James Gillray
1756-1815

Apotheosis of the Corsican-Phoenix / Js. Gillray invt. & fect.

[London] : Publishd-August 2d 1808-by H. Humphrey 27 St James's Street, [1808]
etching and aquatint, hand colored
image: 341 x 255 mm; trimmed sheet: 361 x 267 mm
Bequest of Gordon N. Ray, 1987.
1986.356
Notes
At right of caption title: When the Phoenix is tired of Life, he builds a Nest upon the Mountains, and setting it on Fire by the wafting of his own Wings - he perishes Himself in the Flames! - and from the Smoke of his Ashes arises a new Phoenix to illuminate the World!!! - Vide. The New Spanish Encyclopaedia. Edit. 1808.
Provenance

From the library of Gordon N. Ray.

Summary

Print shows the phoenix with the head of Napoleon. His flaming nest is the terrestrial globe, resting on sheaves of bayoneted muskets laid on a flat-topped pinnacle inscribed 'Pyrenean Mountains'. His blazing crown flies upwards from his head; his claws are raised in horror and from one his sceptre falls. On the globe is a map of countries surrounding the Mediterranean, the central spot being 'Corsica'. The burning countries are 'Portugal', 'Spain', 'France', 'Sicily', 'Germany', 'Italy', and 'Turkey'. At the base of the globe is the north of 'Africa' with 'Morocco' and 'Algiers'. Above the flames emerges a dove holding an olive branch, its wings inscribed 'Peace on Earth'.

Associated names
Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher.
Ray, Gordon Norton, 1915-1986, former owner.
Artist
Gillray, James
Classification
Print
Department
Drawings and Prints
Catalog link
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