The Plumb-Pudding in Danger;–or–State Epicures Taking un Petit Souper

The Plumb-Pudding in Danger;–or–State Epicures Taking un Petit Souper

Digital Exhibits

Napoleon Bonaparte was declared emperor of France in 1804, and the English statesman William Pitt sat across a dining table, each carving out a piece from a plum pudding in the shape of the world. "The diminutive Napoleon, rising from his seat to reach the table, hungrily takes Europe while Pitt carves a large slice of ocean, illustrating the respective areas of power in the ongoing war between Britain and France." This work includes two men sitting across a table facing one another, cutting a large spherical ‘plum pudding’ that is emulating a globe of the world. The man on the right is dressed in 1800s French military clothing, and the man on the left is wearing 1800s British military clothing.

James Gillray

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Hannah Humphrey

26 February, 1805

https://www.alamy.com/the-plumb-pudding-in-dangerorstate-epicures-taking-un-petit-souper-february-26-1805-james-gillray-british-napoleon-bonaparte-declared-emperor-of-france-in-1804-and-the-english-statesman-william-pitt-sit-across-a-dining-table-each-carving-out-a-piece-from-a-plum-pudding-in-the-shape-of-the-world-the-diminutive-napoleon-rising-from-his-seat-in-order-to-reach-the-table-hungrily-takes-europe-while-pitt-carves-a-large-slice-of-ocean-illustrating-the-respective-areas-of-power-in-the-ongoing-war-between-britain-and-france-the-plumb-pudding-in-dangerorstate-epicures-taking-un-petit-sou-image458134034.html

Kennesaw State University, Magdaline Marks

Public Domain, Distribution accessible through the Met's Open Access Policy

Dimensions: plate: 10 1/4 x 14 1/4 in. (26 x 36.2 cm)
sheet: 10 3/8 x 14 7/16 in. (26.4 x 36.6 cm)

English, French

Physical Object

Object Number: 42.121(93)

Europe 19th Century

Dimensions: plate: 10 1/4 x 14 1/4 in. (26 x 36.2 cm)
sheet: 10 3/8 x 14 7/16 in. (26.4 x 36.6 cm)

Hand-Color Etching on Plate

Plate