Author(s):
lesueur, jean-baptiste (paris, in 1749 - plailly, in 1826), designer
other titles:
citizen carrying a sabre. (dummy title), the french guards brought to the palais-royal, june 30, 1789. (dummy title)
date of production: between 1789 and 1790
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 caption in ink: "citizen like there were / many with a large saber / and always ready to draw to / support the party of the day. ". \ inscription in ink
legend - on the front of the old montage, under the left gouache, label with handwritten legend in ink: "the french guards brought to the palais-royal. / when we learned that the french guards had refused [sic] to fire on the people at versailles the / people of paris showed extreme joy, and in a tumultuous gathering someone / took it into their head to say that they had been shot several to the abbey because of this refusal; we ran to this prison / from where we took those we found there without inquiring why they were there: we took them [sic] in triumph / to the palais-royal where they were housed in a superb apartment, well fed [sic] and above all / well to drink. We made collections in the garden for a few days, which produced them / a lot of money. We showed them through the windows, and we took them for a walk in the garden. / when this comedy, which was only made to exalt the people, had lasted long enough according to the wishes of those who had it performed, the actors disappeared and no more was spoken of it. \ inscription in ink
inscription - on the front of the old montage, top right, handwritten label in ink: "15th sheet" \ inscription in ink
stamp - front: "carnavalet"
iconographic description:
historical scene: national guard, man, woman, child, crowd, bonnet, joy / figure: sans-culotte, saber, pipe, cocked hat, cockade; french revolution. Historical commentary:
soldiers from this elite corps had refused to shoot at the people. Imprisoned, they were freed by the parisians, whom they then supported in their revolt. 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. 9067. Date: between 1789 and 1790.
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