Egyptian Sketches (BM 1851,0901.960)

Emblematical frontispiece to a set of six prints on the Expedition to Egypt, see BMSats 9356-61. Two sphinxes, back to back on a stone slab (on which are the signature and imprint), support a stone ornament inscribed with the title, followed by: 'extracted from the Portfolio of an ingenious young Artist, attached to the Institut National at Cairo, which was found on board a Tartane intercepted on its Voyage to Marseilles------The Situations in which the Artist occasionally represents his Countrymen are a sufficient proof of an Impartiality and Fidelity, which cannot be too much commended; - indeed, we must suspect that his view of the flagitious absurdities of his Countrymen in Egypt, is nearly similar to ours, and that he took this method of pourtraying them, under the seal of confidence to his Correspondent at Paris.'
The sphinxes wear cocked hats with tricolour cockades, and have rapacious claws. Behind the inscription is a pyramid up which climbs an ape dressed as a (ragged) French officer holding up a large bonnet-rouge (such as was then carried on the masts of French men-of-war) in order to place it on the apex. In his sash is a blood-stained dagger. A nude man, symbolizing Folly, wearing a fool's cap, clutches his coat-tail, holding up a cap and bells, the cap on an ass's head. Large clouds, and a line of desert with pyramids on the horizon, form a background. 12 March 1799

Hand-coloured etching