L'Infanterie Francaise en Egypte
This is one of six prints from the series, Egyptian Sketches, created by Gillray in response to the French invasion of Egypt by Napoleon. For more information about the series as a whole, see my commentary on the title page, Egyptian Sketches.
The full title of the print is L'Infanterie Francaise en Egypte - Le General L'Asne converted to Ibrahim Bey which can be translated as "The French Infantry in Egypt - General Jackass converted to Ibrahim Bey."
In modern day French, donkey or jackass is "l'ane," but in the 17th and 18th centuries, "l'asne" was an alternative spelling. For example, the famous classical novel by Apuleius, The Golden Ass, appeared in a 17th century French translation as L'Asne d'or.
[March 12, 1799]
© Trustees of the British Museum
){kind=link}
In keeping with the focus upon the absurdity of the French enterprise in Egypt, Gillray shows the French revolutionary infantry as a sorry bunch of grim-faced soldiers, ill-fed and ill-clothed, mounted on asses rather than the horses they actually rode. But simply savoring the visual implication that the French are nothing more than jackases, doesn't really explain the second part of the title.
Ibrahim Bey was a Mameluke Chieftain. Along with Murad Bey, he was one of two co-rulers of Egypt and one of the principal opponents of Bonaparte. What does it mean that "General Jackass" been "converted to Ibrahim Bey"? There are two potential General Jackasses in this picture. One is the French officer with his sword held aloft trying to maintain discipline. The other is the ass he is riding, who seems to be braying orders to his fellows. All of the donkeys, however, are shod in a very unusual way—wearing traditional turkish slippers.
[March 12, 1799]
© Trustees of the British Museum
If "General Jackass" is indeed the braying donkey and not the French commander riding him, the French infantry may be sitting on a counter-revolution (literally) and encountering resistance sympathetic to Ibrahim Bey from a quarter where they least expect it.
Sources and Reading
- Commentary from the British Museum on L'Infanterie Francaise en Egypte.
- "Ibrahim Bey (Mamluk)," Wikipedia
- Thomas Wright and R.H. Evans, Historical and Descriptive Account of the Caricatures of James Gillray #223
- Thomas Wright and Joseph Grego, The Works of James Gillray, the Caricaturist; With the History of His Life and Times p. 256.
Comments & Corrections
NOTE: Comments and/or corrections are always appreciated. To make that easier, I have included a form below that you can use. I promise never to share any of the info provided without your express permission.