1-150-243 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'Free Italy (?)', 1859. This cartoon shows Italty shackled to a block labelled Venetia. A stern looking Francis Joseph rests one foot on the block in a very dominant stance. He also holds the keys to the chains binding Italy. Additionally, these keys could be seen as representative of the cross key symbol of the papacy, and this would accord with the papal crown with which Napoleon on the right is blinding Italy. In mid July 1859, despite his promise to fight for Italy until she was completely free from any Austrian domination, France's Napoleon III met with Austria's Francis Joseph at Villafranca and agreed terms for peace. These terms not only left Venetia in Austrian hands, but proposed an Italian confederation with the pope as titular head. From Punch, or the London Charivari, July 23, 1859.