Author(s):
lesueur, jean-baptiste (paris, in 1749 - plailly, in 1826), designer
date of production: between 1795 and 1799
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:
inscription - on the front of the old montage, handwritten label in ink: "30th sheet" \ inscription in ink
legend - on the front of the old montage, under gouache, label with handwritten legend in ink: "sans terre. Rich brewer of fauxbourg [sic] st. Antoine. He intrigued to be something in the revolution; / being battalion commander of his neighborhood, he sought a quarrel with general lafayette, who having left / to go command an army on the rhine, sansterre requested and obtained to be commander of the army / parisian he had the honor of leading louis xvi to death, and when this monarch wanted to speak to the / people, he made the drums roll so that he could not be heard; after this great exploit believing himself capable / of commanding an army in the campaign, he asked for the command / he was appointed division general in the vendée, he made an ample supply of good [sic] maps of / geography of the country [sic], and quantity of superb mathematical instruments, and even though he was at the head of his army, as soon as he arrived, the vendée came and fell on his division and routed it! / sansterre who did not believe [sic] that we dared to attack him, was very frightened [sic], he fled headlong [sic], abandoning command, geographical maps, and mathematical instruments, and came to / start making beer again [sic]. He was given the nickname of general mousseux!. " \ inscription in ink
iconographic description:
satirical scene: santerre antoine-joseph (1752-1809), division general, horse, galloping, geographical map, telescope, flight, vendée war; french revolution. Brewer, cordeliers club brewery. Historical commentary:
the very type of the sans-culotte bourgeois, santerre had stood out at the head of the sectionaries and in the national guard. But he was beaten by the vendéens, which ruined his prestige and his career. 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. 9078. Date: between 1795 and 1799.
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