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Cartoon, Siege de la Colonne de Pompee

Cartoon, Siege de la Colonne de Pompee


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Cartoon, Siege de la Colonne de Pompee

Cartoon, Siege de la Colonne de Pompee [Pompeys Pillar, a Roman triumphal column], Science in the Pillory, by James Gillray. Showing Turks and Bedouins at the base of a tall Corinthian column, on top of which is a group of terrified Frenchmen (one of whom is possibly Napoleon). The Arabs have lit a fire at the base of the column. A satirical depiction of an incident which took place in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1798. Date: 1799

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Media ID 14230245

© The Sharp Illustration Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library

1790s 1799 Arab Arabs Balloon Bedouin Bedouins Camel Camels Colonne Comment Corinthian Criticism Falling Fear Fluted Frenchmen Gillray Harsh Incident Misunderstanding Napoleon Orientalism Pillar Pillory Relationship Research Rifle Satire Satirical Scientific Siege Tall Terrified Terror Triumphal Turks Weapon Base Pompee


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> Africa > Egypt > Alexandria

> Animals > Mammals > Camel

> Arts > Artists > G > James Gillray


EDITORS COMMENTS
James Gillray's satirical print, "Siege de la Colonne de Pompee" (Siege of Pompey's Pillar), offers a harsh commentary on the political tensions and misunderstandings between European powers and the Middle East during the late 18th century. The image depicts a chaotic scene at the base of a tall Corinthian column, which represents Pompey's Pillar, a Roman triumphal monument in Alexandria, Egypt. A group of terrified Frenchmen, including what may be a likeness of Napoleon Bonaparte, cling to the fluted surface of the column as Turks and Bedouins below light a fire at its base. The scene is a satirical depiction of an incident that took place in Alexandria in 1798, when the French army, led by Napoleon, arrived in Egypt and encountered resistance from local Arab and Turkish forces. The print's title, "Science in the Pillory," suggests a critique of the European scientific and imperialist ambitions that fueled the French expedition to Egypt. The Frenchmen atop the column are shown with books and scientific instruments, implying a connection between their research and the violence and chaos unfolding below. The Arabs and Bedouins, in contrast, are portrayed as primitive and violent, with one Bedouin riding a camel and brandishing a rifle. The image reinforces Orientalist stereotypes that would come to dominate European perceptions of the Middle East in the following centuries. The balloon and falling man in the upper left corner of the print add a whimsical element to the otherwise harsh and critical commentary. The balloon, labeled "Aerostation," may represent the hubris of European scientific and imperialist endeavors, while the falling man represents the fragility and uncertainty of the European presence in the Middle East.

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