Author(s):
lesueur, jean-baptiste (paris, in 1749 - plailly, in 1826), designer
other title: wounded on august 10. (inscribed title (letter))
production date: in 1792
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: "wound of august 10. / the morning of august 10, 1792. The armed citizens of each section having formed into battalions, having / rifles [sic], sabres, pikes and cannons. Were lined up in the place du carousel [sic] in front of the castle [sic] des thuilleries [sic]; this castle (sic] / was defended by part of the regiment [sic] of the swiss guards with their cannons: the interior of the castle up to the attic was filled / with an infinite number of people armed with all kinds of weapons; they had biscayans whose cast iron bullets had an inch in diameter, and carried / so far that they came holes in the cut stone of the houses on rue st. Nicaise we do not know from which side [sic] the first shot came, but at the same moment there was a terrible fire from both sides which knocked down many people [sic] to see themselves riddled by a fire to which they could not respond from so far away and braved this fire by rushing the bayonet [sic] forward into the courtyards. Castle where the swiss were, they massacred them [sic], and / going into the apartments they [sic] made a horrible butchery of all those they found there [sic]; but many were saved by means of exits in case they had to flee. Many citizens perished on this fatal day, a much greater number were injured and transported home, or to hospitals [sic]. Legend - continuation of the legend: ". . . Inscription in ink
iconographic description:
scene: sans-culotte, citizen, patriot, wounded, wife, child, daughter, son, saber, rifle, prayer; 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. Acquisition method: manual donation
name of donor, testator, seller: liesville, alfred de, viscount
date of acquisition: 01–01–1881
institution: carnavalet museum, history of paris
inventory number: d. 14434. Date: En 1792.
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