Author(s):
lesueur, jean-baptiste (paris, in 1749 - plailly, in 1826), designer
other titles:
jourdan known as coupe-tête (1746-1794). (dummy title), the triumph of marat. (inscribed title (letter)), jourdan says coupe-tête. (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: "the triumph of marat. / he called himself the friend of the people, and through his writings he incited him to be a plunderer and assassin, saying that it was necessary to kill 2 to 300 / thousand men, take the property of the rich, and of the merchants, and share it among the people, which pleased much to the / populace he was denounced as having received [sic] money from the orléans faction, he was arrested and put on trial; but / the jacobins, not wanting to lose their most zealous partisan [sic], had him declared innocent from the audience [sic], and paraded him [sic] in triumph until the convention. [sic] published his dangerous [sic] opinions, / until he was assassinated as we know. Etc. Legend - on the front of the old montage, under the gouache on the right, label with handwritten caption in ink: "jourdan dit coupe-tete. Showing his victims to his companions in atrocities [sic]. / we will not repeat here the murders of which this monster boasts of being the author. ". Inscription - on the front of the old montage, top right, handwritten label in ink: "42nd sheet". \ inscription in ink
stamp - front: "carnavalet"
stamp - "ml"
iconographic description:
historical scene: marat jean-paul, triumph of marat, montagnard deputy, portrait, crowd, jacobin, sans-culotte, red cap, cockade, square, level / group of figures: jourdan, known as head-cutter, criminal; french revolution, avignon
historical commentary:
marat, who violently defended the underprivileged, had to stand trial at the request of the girondins. The gouache represents his acquittal. Jourdan, a massacrer who had dishonored the republic in the south, was executed in may 1794. 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. 9087. Date: between 1793 and 1794.
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