Destruction of the French Colossus Still Image

A giant Medusa-headed colossus straddling the English Channel is struck by lightning bolts from a hand holding a Union Jack shield, standing beside a bloodied guillotine labeled "Fraternite."

Dublin Core

Title

Destruction of the French Colossus

Description

This hand–colored engraving, published in late 1798, depicts a Hercules representing France being decapitated by a lighting bolt in divine retribution for the executions by guillotine and for the attempt to create "Fraternity" and a "Religion of Nature" to replace the Christian love of God. Notice that it is the British who launch these deadly attacks.

Creator

James Gillray

Source

Bibliothèque Nationale de France

Date

1798

Rights

Public Domain

Relation

http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/52/|Collection de Vinck. Un siècle d'histoire de France par l'estampe, 1770-1870. Vol. 29 (pièces 4856-5017), Ancien Régime et Révolution

Format

JPEG

Language

English

Identifier

52

Still Image Item Type Metadata

Original Format

Engraving

Physical Dimensions

36.5 x 26 cm

Title (English)

Destruction of the French Collossus

Caption

Shall the Works of a wicked Nation remain? shall the Monuments of Oppression not be destroyed? shall the Lightning not blast the Image which the Destroyers have set up against the God of Heaven & against His laws?

Citation

James Gillray, “Destruction of the French Colossus,” LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY: EXPLORING THE FRENCH REVOUTION, accessed November 9, 2026, https://revolution.chnm.org/d/52.