Author(s):
lesueur, jean-baptiste (paris, in 1749 - plailly, in 1826), designer
other title: the siege of the island. (inscribed title (letter))
date of production: between 1792 and 1793
type(s) of object(s): drawing, graphic arts
name(s): drawing
dimensions - artwork:
height: 36cm
width: 53. 5cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 50cm
width: 65cm
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: "le siege de l'ille. / at the siege of lille the inhabitants [sic] showed unusual courage and intrepidity, the children played with the bombs / and the balls; women collected red cannonballs in pans after letting them extinguish, and cool a little / a bomb fell [sic], a woman pulled out the strand, and men covered her [sic] with a red bonnet [sic] men, women, children [sic] ran / on the bombs to tear out the strands [sic]. One fell in an assembly hall, she was declared there permanently. \ inscription in ink
inscription - on the front of the old montage, handwritten label in ink: "75th sheet" \ inscription in ink
iconographic description:
historical scene: people, sans-culottes, woman, child, bomb, cannonball, joy, patriotism, siege, lille; french revolution. Historical commentary:
during the austro-prussian offensive of 1792, lille suffered an intense and destructive siege, which it resisted victoriously, the population actively participating in the defense of the city. 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. Acquisition mode: dation
name of donor, testator, seller: bidault de l'isle, georges
date of acquisition: 17–10–1977
institution: carnavalet museum, history of paris
inventory number: d. 9098. Date: between 1792 and 1793.
Loading...
