Coloured engraving of a Highland soldier, entitled 'Le Répas du Chat'

Add to album

Satirical engraving of a Highland soldier, entitled 'Le Répas du Chat' (The Cat's Dinner) or 'Honni soit qui mal y pense' (Dishonour be to him who thinks badly of it), published in Paris by Boieldieu, 1815.

A Scots soldier lifts his kilt to collect red cherries, while a cat jumps below him. In the background another kilted Scotsman is bending over to the obvious delight of two French ladies behind him.

French print makers were fascinated by the kilt and what was worn beneath it. The productivity of French print-sellers underwent rapid expansion during the encampment of the Highland Regiments in the Bois de Boulogne after the Battle of Waterloo.

Record details

To search on related items, click any underlined text below.

• Online ID: 000-000-100-306-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: The Thistle at War
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  M.1989.112
• Date: 1815
  
• Material: Paper
  Print / engraving
  
• Dimensions: 210 mm H x 262 mm W
  
• What: Print / engraving
  
• Subject: Prints / History - Military
  
• Who: Boieldieu, rue Amelot, Paris (publisher)
  
• Where: France, Paris
  France, Paris
  
• Event:
• Description: Coloured engraving of a Highland soldier, entitled 'Le Répas du Chat', published in Paris by Boieldieu, 1815.
  
• References:
  • McCorry, Helen (ed.) The thistle at war: an anthology of the Scottish experience of war, in the services and at home. Edinburgh, NMS, 1997 
  • Wood, Stephen The Auld Alliance: Scotland and France, the military connection. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing in conjunction with the Mona Bismarck Foundation, 1989 
• Translations:
  • Français
• Related Records: