Author(s):
lesueur, jean-baptiste (paris, in 1749 - plailly, in 1826), designer
other title: officer cadet of the ecole de mars, paris. (dummy title)
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 gouache on the right, label with handwritten legend in ink: "during the vendée war we made requisitions of young people. A citizen presented his son / who was cacochism, and like an imbecile, and incapable of serving; but he proposed that if we wanted / to take care of his son that he would march in his place: which was accepted. ". \ inscription in ink
legend - on the front of the old montage, under the left gouache, label with handwritten caption in ink: "volunteer leaving for the army with a uniform which has not/been imitated". \ inscription in ink
inscription - on the front of the old montage, handwritten label in ink: "28th sheet" \ inscription in ink
stamp - front: "carnavalet"
iconographic description:
figure: man, cadet, ecole de mars, uniform, sword, rifle / scene: father, soldier, volunteer, son, moron, cowardly, national guard, patriotism, requisition, vendée war; french revolution. Historical commentary:
scene of devotion both patriotic and paternal; probable reflection of a fact observed by lesueur himself. 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. 9076. Date: between 1793 and 1794.
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