Author(s):
lesueur, jean-baptiste (paris, in 1749 - plailly, in 1826), designer
other title: assassination of general kléber, commander of the army of egypt, june 14, 1800. (dummy title)
production date: in 1800
type(s) of object(s): drawing, graphic arts
name(s): drawing
dimensions - artwork:
height: 35. 5cm
width: 52. 6cm
dimensions - frame:
height: 53. 7cm
width: 68. 8 cm
depth: 2. 5cm
description:
set of 83 known revolutionary gouaches, including 73 preserved at the carnavalet museum. Marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
legend - on the front of the old montage, under gouache, label with handwritten legend in ink: "assassination of general kleber commander of the army of egypt. / it was about an hour ago that general kleber was walking, chatting in a gallery near the garden with mr. Protain architect of the government; / when a [sic] turk came furtively from behind, and hit the general with a dagger which knocked him to the ground; on the edge of the gallery shouted for help [sic] in a [sic] voice so weak / that he was not heard, protain got up and running to the turk he began a fight again, but the blood which flowed from his head into his eyes often prevented him from seeing / his enemy, from whom he received three more blows in the hand, in the stomach, and in the back. The assassin, fearing that help would come, fled: protain ran to the general / who told him to support him being very weak, this young man tried [sic] to support him, but lacking his strength due to the loss of his blood he let it flow from his arms, / and fell unconscious himself, we were more than an hour without coming to relieve them; the general expired a few minutes later. " \ inscription in ink
inscription - on the front of the old montage, handwritten label in ink: "76th sheet". \ inscription in ink
iconographic description:
historical scene: kléber jean-baptiste (1753-1800), general; protain (1769-1837), architect; turk, assassin, dagger, garden; consulate, egypt, cairo
historical commentary:
all of lesueur's gouaches preserved at the carnavalet museum constitute a unique testimony to the revolutionary period. A sort of diary in images, the technique in which it is produced, as well as its scale, suggest a public, theatrical or "museographic" function. These small paintings and - a little differently - the texts which accompany them, reflect the varied feelings, sometimes enthusiastic, sometimes reproachful, of the parisian petty bourgeoisie facing the revolutionary event and daily life. Historical scenes, more innocuous skits, or isolated characters like military figurines are captured with liveliness, accuracy of observation, sense of color and layout which give them great flavor. The undeniable documentary interest of the series is particularly clear with regard to sans-culottes, the army, women, costume; but also mentalities and their evolution in the political situation of the years 1789-1806, and this with all the more force as the gouaches were painted immediately after the event or the fact that they represent. Mode of acquisition: purchase
date of acquisition: 01–01–2007
institution: carnavalet museum, history of paris
inventory number: d. 15870. Date: En 1800.
Loading...
