Inner courtyard of La Force in 1840, Theodor Josef Hubert Hoffbauer, between 1875 and 1882

The prison located in the hôtel de la force, rue du roi-de-sicile, was established in 1782 following a decision on the part of louis xvi to improve incarceration conditions. The prison consisted of eight courtyards (one of which is shown here), and six "departments" which divided the prisoners by nature of their crime. One of the courtyards is famously known for being the site of the princesse de lamballe's violent slaying during the revolution. The prison was demolished in the late 19th century. Date: between 1875 and 1882. Dimensions: height: 9.6 cm (3.7 in); width: 12.2 cm (4.8 in). Medium: lithograph. Collection: Brown University Library. Cour intérieure de la Force en 1840