The National Assembly petrified. The National Assembly revivified

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James Gillray
1756-1815
The National Assembly petrified. The National Assembly revivified
hand colored etching
first image: 206 x 290 mm; plate: 214 x 300 mm; sheet: 227 x 312 mm; second image: 200 x 285 mm; plate: 200 x 298 mm; sheet: 210 x 311 mm
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan, 1900.
Peel 2734-35
Published: 
[London] : Pubd. June 28th, 1791, by S.W. Fores, No. 3 Piccadilly, [28 June 1791]
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Notes: 

Title from text in image.
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue.
LIbrary's copy has been cut in half, separating the two panels.

Summary: 

A design in two compartments, one above the other, the figures in both being three quarter length. [1] A ragged French barber, in profile to the right, gesticulating and capering, says to six terror-stricken companions: "O sacre dieu! de King is escape! de King is escape". The foremost listener is a tailor, his shears stuck through the string of his apron, a measuring-tape round his shoulders, but wearing a cocked hat and sword. On the extreme left is a diminutive postboy. All are much caricatured with expressions denoting dismay. The barber wears a bag-wig, with a comb stuck in his hair; the others wear tricolour cockades in their hats. [2] Another group of ruffians listen with delight to a cook (left) who says, taking a pinch of snuff, and capering, "Aha! be gar, de King is retaken! Aha! Monsr Lewis is retaken! Aha!" In his cap is a tricolour cockade inscribed 'Liberty'; he wears over-sleeves, a spoon and fork are stuck through his apron-string, a string of frogs hangs from his belt. His most prominent listener is a shoe-black with a grotesquely wide grin, who stands, shoe in one hand, brush in the other.

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