Artist(s):

del. & sc. Gillray, James (1756-1815)

Composed Title English:

Ci-devant Occupations! or Madame Tallien and the Empress Josephine dancing naked before Barras in the winter of 1797.

Inscribed Title:

ci-devant Occupations! - or - Madame Talian and the Empress Josephine dancing naked before Barrass in the Winter of 1797. -- A Fact!

Inscription:

Barrass (then in power) being tired of Josephine, promissed Buonaparte a promotion, on condition that he would take her off his hands; — Barrass, had, as usual, drank freely & placed Buonaparte behind a screen, while he amused himself with these two Ladies, who || were then his humble dependents, – Madame Talian is a beautiful woman, tall & elegant: Josephine is smaller & thin, with bad Teeth something like Cloves, – it is needless to add that Buonaparte accepted the promotion and the Lady – now – Empress of France! – // Js Gillray dest & fect // London pubd 20 Feb 1805 by H. Humphrey St James's Street

Description:

This caricature is a satire on the rumour that Barras wanted to get rid of Josephine who was then his mistress. He handed her over to Napoleon who was infatuated with her, with the added bonus of promoting the young general to Commander-in-chief of the Army of Italy. The marriage took place in 1796. Barras sitting comfortably watches Josephine and Madame Tallien dancing behind a veil curtain. Napoleon peeks in from the other side. The women are naked but for their jewellery, gartered stockings and slippers. They play tambourines. Madame Tallien is seen from the back, Josephine is in full view, a flower in her hair. Barras - then head of the Directoire - sits in an armchair topped by an infant Bacchus wearing a red bonnet (grapes, glass of wine, bottles (Chianti flasks)). The mirror on the wall is partly concealed by a curtain and is inscribed 'Messalina'. Messalina was the wife of Claudius, remembered for her avarice, foolishness, numerous lovers, lack of moral fibre ; her name is now synonymous with a person of poor character. Barras is enjoying himself so much that he does not notice that the wine is spilling from the glass. On the table in front of him, are placed a bottle of 'BURGUNDY,' a bottle of 'MARESCHINO,' a paper headed 'Egypt' on 'Commission pour BOnaparte' signed 'Barras.' More bottles are on the floor. The screen behind Napoleon is decorated : skulls with red phrygian bonnets, a crown, a cupid riding a crocodile in front of pyramids, palm trees, and playing a trumpet. Napoleon holds an enormous plumed cocked hat behind his back.

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