Author(s):
lesueur, jean-baptiste (paris, in 1749 - plailly, in 1826), designer
other titles:
guard of louis xvi. (dummy title), students of the ecole de mars, paris. (dummy title), children in uniform (dummy title)
date of production: between 1792 and 1795
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 each gouache, labels with handwritten captions in ink and black pencil: from left to right: "young boy carrying / a basket of fruit / at the agricultural festival. / year 7. "; “woman in military clothing / melle méricourt”; "foot guards of louis xvi. / when he was at thuilleries [sic]. "; “students [sic] of mars”; "uniform of the composition of / painter david, they were removed [sic] after the fall / of robespierre. ".;“national institute”; “students [sic], or child / of the homeland / child of mercy”; “students [sic] nicknamed / little bourdon. ” \ inscription in ink
inscription - on the front of the old montage, top right, handwritten label in ink: "7th sheet". \ inscription in ink
iconographic description:
group of figures: boy, fruits, basket, costume, crown, flower, agricultural festival / théroigne de méricourt anne-josèphe (1762-1817), woman, amazon, saber, pistol / constitutional guard of louis xvi, uniform, rifle / student, school of mars, costume, david jacques-louis / child, orphan, soldier, red cap, little bourdons; french revolution. Historical commentary:
these aligned characters are quite disparate: four children, a constitutional guard, two students from the ecole de mars (costumes designed by david) and the beautiful théroigne de méricourt in amazon dress. 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. 9061. Date: between 1792 and 1795.
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