The Double Humbug or the Devils Imp Praying for Peace

Art Historical Context

In the turbulent final days of the Napoleonic Wars, British satirist Thomas Rowlandson crafted *The Double Humbug or the Devils Imping for Peace* on January 1, 1814, published by Rudolph Ackermann in London. hand-colored etching, measuring 9¼ × 14 inches, exemplifies the sharp-witted caricatures that flooded Britain, mocking Napoleon Bonaparte as a hypocritical "devil's imp" feigning piety for peace amid his crumbling empire. The title's "double humbug" skewers the French emperor's desperate overtures to his foes after defeats in the War of the Sixth Coalition, portraying him as a duplicitous figure whose prayers ring hollow. Rowlandson's mastery of etching—enhanced by vivid hand-coloring—brings exaggerated features and devilish motifs to life, making the print both a political jab and a collector's delight. As part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection, it highlights the era's print culture, where affordable, colorful satires shaped public opinion against Napoleon. These works weren't just art; they were weapons of propaganda, fueling British resolve and morale. Today, this piece invites us to chuckle at history's ironies, reminding visitors how caricature captured the spirit of resistance and ridicule in 19th-century Europe.

About the Artist

Thomas Rowlandson|Napoléon Bonaparte|Rudolph Ackermann, London · 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...