Author(s):
lesueur, jean-baptiste (paris, in 1749 - plailly, in 1826), designer
other titles:
general security committee (registered title (letter)), arrest of guillaume de lamavoine de malesherbes (1721-1794). (dummy title), lavoisier one of the most skilful chemists in europe. (title registered (letter)), mr. De malesherbes president of parliament. Unofficial defender of louis xvi. (inscribed title (letter))
date of production: between 1793 and 1794
type(s) of object(s): drawing, graphic arts
name(s): drawing
dimensions - artwork:
height: 36cm
width: 53. 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 the left gouache, label with handwritten legend in ink: "lavoisier one of the most skilful chymists [sic] in europe. / he was a farmer general, and used his income in this science. / when he was notified of his arrest, he asked for eight days; not that he wanted / to live this extra time, but to complete a chymic [sic] operation / very beneficial for humanity; the man named dumas replied / that we did not need a chemist. "
legend - on the front of the old montage, under the central gouache, label with handwritten legend in ink: "general safety committee. / in the time of terror there went out every day from this terrible committee / a frightening quantity of arrest warrants: launched on many / of people who enjoyed the highest consideration before. / justice flees from this place where its principles and those of humanity are / unknown, and where error presides. "
legend - on the front of the old montage, under the right-hand gouache, handwritten label in ink: "mr de malesherbes president of the parliament. / unofficial defender [sic] of louis xvi. / when we came to announce his arrest he said, when i [sic] / agreed to defend [sic] the king [sic] i foresaw [sic] where this would lead me [sic]. / i follow you. . . ". \ inscription in ink
inscription - on the front of the old montage, top right, handwritten label in ink: "63rd sheet". \ inscription in ink
stamp - front: "carnavalet"
stamp - "ml"
iconographic description:
scene: lavoisier antoine de, chemist, national guard, laboratory, flask, experiment / scene: committee of general security, commissioner, allegory, justice, broken sword, scales, error, blindfold, torch, cloud, arrest warrant, inkwell, pen / scene: malesherbes guillaume de lamavoine de, defender; arrest; french revolution. 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: 01–09–2002
institution: carnavalet museum, history of paris
inventory number: d. 14949. Date: between 1793 and 1794.
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