And A Few More Satirical Abominations
Artist Unknown, (A lampoon against the aristocracy) "The rascals fear the reverberators." engraving from 1789. The title is no doubt a horribly butchered version of the original French text but still sounds awesome, almost makes me think of a David Bowie album title.

Artist unknown - With the second order of the State (watercolour, brown ink, brown washing, feather drawing) 1789-99
Political satire of the French Revolution..

Artist unknown "Caricature against the Aristocracy" 18th-19th C.

Artist unknown "Patriotic hunting for the large animal." 18th-19th C.

I might have posted that top image previously, not sure. I went ahead and ran a full week of satirical artworks, largely at the request of Paul Rumsey. I've had a much larger week of political cartoons with monsters planned for a long time but still need to really dig into my sources to find the good stuff. Particularly WW2, I know there's a lot of crazy caricatures of nazi war machines, tentacled swastika beasts stretching across the planet, things like that, all of which I'll be posting at a later date. Any suggestions for good places to look would be very welcome.

More Satirical Abominations
Print made by Samuel De Wilde "The monster melo-drama." (hand colored etching) 1807

Print made by Charles Williams "Boney forsaken by his guardian genius." (hand colored etching) 1814
"The Devil hovers above Napoleon, who kneels on one knee, looking up in horror; he snatches the crown from the Emperor's head; in his left hand he holds up a second crown. He is dark, hairy, and muscular, with webbed wings and barbed tail. Napoleon, who wears uniform with a sash and a very large sword, with Hessian boots, leans back with arms extended protestingly; he says: "My Guardian Angel—my Protector, do not desert me in the hour of Danger." The Devil: "Poh! Poh! you cannot expect to reign for ever, besides I want you at home to teach some of the young imps wickedness." Great clouds of smoke rise from distant flames, where 'Paris' (right) is blazing."

Print made by Thomas Rowlandson "Plump to the devil we boldly kick'd bot Nap and his partner Joe." (hand colored etching) 1813


Print made by Francis Barlow (etching) 1671-80
"Satire concerning Dutch political events in the 1670s: a Dutch cheese has been opened to reveal a group of men standing around a table who react with horror as one of their number is snatched by a devil perched aloft and others clamber or fall out of the open cheese joining maggots, frogs and others on the ground; on the left, Dutchmen climb from smaller holes in the cheese to be greeted by a devil who expresses the desire to eat them; on the right, a Dutchman carrying the flag of the United Provinces rides on a fish and complains "... our fleet's disabled, and our Toadstool Throne,/Is sinking now, for we are left alone"; the devil on top of the cheese excretes further Dutchmen (one represented as a frog); at top right, another devil blows a trumpet, crying, "I doe proclain the Fall of Belgion States/Who for last Cent'ry were our intimates/But now soe proud, and impudent they're grown/They must be humbled to preserve our owne"."

Artist unknown "Faction Display'd" (etching/engraving) 1709
"A satirical broadside on factions within the Church, resisted by Sacheverell; with an etching showing a beast with seven heads, including that of the Pope and Daniel Defoe, on its tail the Whore of Babylon playing upon a violoncello, along and through the main body of the beast runs a cannon, which is fired by the devil and shooting daggers, whips and other items towards the figure of Sacheverell, who is standing on the right and holding an opened Bible"

Print made by Charles Jameson Grant "Taking the Boromongers home" (hand colored lithograph) 1832

Published by Laurie & Whittle "Old Maids Leading Apes" (hand colored etching) 1797
"Lettered with the title, and "In Ancient sayings we hear tell, / Of Maidens leading Apes in Hell; / But Younger Maidens it is said, / Lead Puppies to their Wedding Bed.","

After Henry William Bunbury "The Origin of the Gout" (hand colored etching) 1800-20

Artist unknown "Das ist mein lieber Sohn an dem ich Wohlgefallen habe (This is my dear son)" etching, 1813-14
"Satirical print showing a seated devil cradling his 'baby son', Napoleon I. "

Print made by I M (hand colored etching) 1800
"a man in a study full of books, a telescope and mathematical instruments is tormented by blue devils with instruments of suicide."

Print made by Thomas Rowlandson "The champion of Oakhampton, attacking the hydra of Gloucester place." (hand colored etching) 1809
"Wardle in armour with plumed helmet and floating cloak attacks with sword and shield a hydra with seven heads, all in profile, each wearing an inscribed collar. The principal head is that of the Duke of York (a flattering portrait), wearing The Collar of Corruption. The others are Bowler, Clarke, O Meara, Master Carter [the smallest], Sandon, Dr Donovan [with a pen behind his ear]. A serpent lies beside the hydra. Behind is the mouth of a cave. Below the title: Bellva Multorum es Capitum!! vide Horace [Epistles, 1. i. 76]. ('Thou art the Beast of many heads.')"

Published by T Kaygill "Needs Must, when the Devil Drives" (hand colored etching/stippling) 1806

All art and quotes found while digging through the vast collection at The British Museum.

Satirical Monsters
Print made by James Gillray "Saint George and the Dragon" (hand colored etching) 1782

Print made by James Gillray (After Lt-Col Thomas Braddyll?) "Saint George and the Dragon" (hand colored etching)1805

Print made by Thomas Rowlandson "Bell and the dragon." (etching) 1811

Artist unknown, "Digestion de la Constitution" (etching/aquatint) 1792
"Counter-revolutionary satire: a monstrous dragon is fed by two patriots with gold and silver, and excretes decrees that are collected by the municipality of Paris."

Print made by James Sayers "Mr Burke's pair of spectacles for short sighted politicians" (etching/aquatint) 1791

Print made by George Cruikshank "The death of the property tax!!!" (hand colored etching) 1816

Published by Edward Hedges "The rara-avis or the devil turnd bird catcher." (etching) 1784

Print made by William Henry Brooke "Dispute between monopoly and power Satirist" (hand colored etching) 1813

Artist unknown, "Retour de l'Ile d'Elbe, il ramène la liberté!" (hand colored etching) 1814

"Satire against Napoleon: he rides on a tiger labelled 'Liberté', led by the devil and a clown, and followed by Death, who promises to follow him to Waterloo."

Artist unknown "The wicked statesman, or the traitor to his country, at the hour of death" 1772

Print made by Isaac Cruikshank "The income tax, or the insatiable English dragon" (hand colored etching) 1804

Print made by James Gillray "Going down in a Diving Machine." (hand colored etching) 1801

Artist unknown "Un grand nombre de Pretres refractaires s'étaient embarqués sur le Rhin ..." (hand colored etching) 1790
"Satire on the emigration; a winged monster flies above the Rhine, reaching out its arms towards five swimming priests; on each side of the river the banks are visible."

Monsieur sneaking gallantly into Brest's sculking-hole after receiving a preliminary salutation of British Jack Tar the 27 of July 1778 (etching) Published by William Richardson.

"An English sailor wielding a cat-o'-nine-tails chases a French sailor into the wide jaws of a dragon or sea-monster; they symbolize the British and French fleets. The French sailor, whose jacket is decorated with fleur-de-lys, carries a man-of-war on his head; he shrieks in alarm, his hands outstretched. His trousers are undone and he puffs a blast at his pursuer resembling the smoke which comes from the ships' guns. Both men are running on the surface of the sea; within the jaws of the monster is a fleet; guns are firing towards a single British ship on the left which returns the fire. The jaws of the monster are inscribed "Grand Monarque"."

"The champions of reform destroying the monster of corruption" Published by George Humphrey, 1831

"The Vision or M-n-st-l Monster address'd to the Friends of Old England' by Sybilla Prophecy" (etching/engraving) Description to follow. (etching and engraving)Published by Henry Howard, 1762

Artist unknown "Les deux ne font qu'un" (hand colored etching) 1791
"Satire on Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette as a double-ended beast."

Satire In Hell
Print made by J Lewis Marks (hand colored etching) 1814

"Napoleon is pushed and dragged by two winged devils into the flames of Hell, while a fantastic serpent encircles his body and darts fangs towards his face. They are surrounded by clouds and by a chain of little dancing hobgoblins. Winged monstrosities hover over him, spitting flame, or menace him with gaping jaws and glaring eyeballs. Napoleon is burlesqued and ragged, with a corvine profile, imitated from G. Cruikshank."

Print made by Isaac Cruikshank "The Devil wont take him, what a pity!!!" (hand colored etching) 1800-1805
"Napoleon (l.) stands outside the stone boundary wall of Hell. Behind the bars of an iron gate are two demons, standing among flames; one holds Napoleon off with a pitchfork pushed through the bars, the other holds out a serpent which stings his cocked hat. Flames fill the gateway, and arise from it; they appear above the top of the wall, on which are three winged demons, two hurling large stones, the other pointing at Napoleon. By them is etched: 'All the little Devils sitting on the Wall cry'd "Turn him out of Hell - turn him out of Hell" or else he'll ruin all"'. Napoleon, approaching the gate, says: "I am come to make you all free & happy!" The two demons within say: "Get you gone. You have cheated the Dutch & Italians; therefore Master says he's afraid you may take him in too!!"


Print made by Thomas Rowlandson "The flight of Bonaparte from Hell-Bay." (hand colored etching) 1815
"The Devil (left), in dressing-gown and nightcap and holding a long tobacco-pipe, to which is attached a soap-bubble, sits in an arm-chair before the flames of Hell (right) which stream up from a rocky pit or cavern. He looks up with a smile of deep satisfaction at Napoleon who stands near the summit of the pit against a background of smoke and flames, one foot resting upon a large floating bubble. He is beset by two flying dragons with serpentine bodies, one having two heads; these dart shafts of flame against him which cross like searchlights. He raises his sword, registering terror. On the ground below are two attendant demons with hairy bodies crouching one each side of their master; both look up in delight at the struggle; one (right) holds out his arms, spreading his talons, ready to catch the Emperor when he falls. The other holds a small bowl of soap-suds towards the Devil. The latter's arm-chair has arms in the shape of serpents; on the back sits an owl."


Artist unknown, "Dal braccio vostro, almi Sovrani, attende ..." (hand colored etching) 1799
"Satire on the oppression of Italy by the French revolutionary army: at right French soldiers, led by Napoleon, encumbered by loot, enter the mouth of hell, while on the left a female personification of Italy begs for aid from the other countries of Europe."

Print made by Thomas Rowlandson "Hell broke loose or the devil to pay among the darling angels." (hand colored etching) 1809
"The Devil, wearing legal wig, gown, and bands, stands under a massive stone archway inscribed Hell Gate. He holds up a pair of equally balanced scales inscribed Patriotism and Virtue; in the former sits Wardle, in the latter Mrs. Clarke. The balance is maintained by two demons, one clinging to each scale. The Devil has widespread feathered wings, scaly body, barbed tail, and talons, with a Mephistophelean face under a serjeant's wig and with a twisted ram's horn. In the fist grasping the scales is a scourge; he puts a talon slyly to his nose. He stands on a block inscribed Two of a Trade can Never Agree. Wardle, wearing cocked hat and regimentals, threatens the Devil with his fists; he sits on a paper inscribed Misconduct and beside him are a box inscribed Freedom Gold Box and a paper: Impeachment. Mrs. Clarke attempts by blandishments to mollify the Devil; she holds out her arms to him alluringly. Her posterior is inscribed Seat of Promotion, and she sits upon papers inscribed: Darling Angel; Pilula Salutarii; Mr Wright's Bill; Infection; Dear Dear; Doctor Donovan Bill; Adultery. The archway frames the three figures; its massive width recedes in perspective; behind the Devil are the flames of Hell in which a little demon flies. On the ground at his feet are a small crocodile (emblem of hypocrisy, cf. No. 11057) and a serpent spitting fire."

Print made by Charles Williams, After George Moutard Woodward "Buonaparte and his old friends on their travels!!" (hand colored etching) 1808
"The Devil pushes Napoleon down a slope towards the jaws of Hell (cf. BMSat 11036), while he directs him to look through his glass at a sun, East Indies, irradiating the sky, above the flames which his victim has not seen. He says: "There my fine little fellow - what do you think of that prospect - I always told you there was nothing got by staying at home, - that is the way to dish John Bull". Napoleon says: "It is certainly a very inviting prospect". The sun appears above a hill to which a road ascends but is barred by the fierce flames issuing from the gaping jaws of a huge monster (r.) in which two grinning demons await the Emperor with pitchforks. One says: "I always said with the help of our Old Master we should have him at last". In the background (l.) a road leads to a building among trees: 'St Cloud'."

Published by John Wallis "A peep below stairs a dream" (etching) 1784

Print made by James Gillray "The life of William Cobbet,—written by himself. N° 8." (hand colored etching) 1809

Print made by William Heath "Un Chiara Obscura" (etching) 1810
"A young man wearing a round hat and fashionable Hessian boots rushes forward with extended arms, dragged (left to right) to the brink of the pit of Hell, by a demon who tugs at a rope round his victim's neck. A second demon, rushing forward on hands and feet, propels the man, holding his leg; both have webbed wings and barbed tails, fanged jaws, and pendent breasts. Flames framed by the rocky mouth of a cave cover much of the design. On the extreme right sits a large chained demon who directs towards the victim from his jaws a blast containing paint-brushes and scrolls, inscribed with the name of a painter: 'Tasca', 'Bossi', 'Bibiena Galiari [? Galiani]', 'Gonsaga'. Above, Pluto holding trident and sceptre is enthroned beside a flying dragon, which breathes fire towards the victim. Flames stream through arches in a high convex stone wall which stretches across the background, representing the City of Dis. Small demons fly in the flames. Through an opening in the side of the cave (left) appear the head and shoulders of a man who watches with horror, exclaiming, 'Whats all this'."

Print made by Paul Sandby "The Fire of Faction" (etching) 1762
"Satire on Hogarth, shown as a devil fanning the fire at the mouth of hell."

Artworks and quotes taken from The British Museum.