Coming in at the Death of the Corsican Fox, Scene the Last

Art Historical Context

In the vibrant world of early 19th-century British satire, Rowlandson's hand-colored etching *Coming in at the Death of the Cors Fox, Scene the Last (April 12, 1814), published by Ackermann in London, captures the triumphant mood surrounding Napoleon's downfall. The title evokes a fox hunt's climactic moment, with the "Corsican Fox"—a sly nickname for Napoleon Bonaparte his island birthplace—finally cornered and slain. Rowlandson, a master caricaturist known for his exaggerated, humorous depictions of human folly, populates the scene with huntsmen (likely symbolizing Britain's Allied foes), dogs, and horses, blending political bite with sporting revelry. Created amid the Wars of the Coalition, this print marks Napoleon's abdication on April 6, 1814, and his exile to Elba just days later, following defeats at Leipzig and Paris. British prints like this one fueled public glee, portraying the French emperor not as a conqueror but a cunning pest dispatched by Anglo-European hounds. The hand-coloring enhances its appeal, adding vivid washes to the etched lines for dramatic effect and commercial success in Ackermann's Repository of Arts. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection, this work exemplifies how prints democratized political commentary, turning history's turning points into witty, accessible entertainment for all classes.

About the Artist

Thomas Rowlandson|Rudolph Ackermann, London|Napoléon Bonaparte · 1756–1827

Thomas Rowlandson (1757–1827) was an English artist and caricaturist whose satirical watercolors and prints captured the social life of Georgian Britain with unparalleled wit and technical mastery. Alongside James Gillray, he is recognized as one of the greatest British graphic artists, and his distinctive flowing line and keen observations have made his work integral to understanding late 18th an...