Author(s):
lesueur, jean-baptiste (paris, in 1749 - plailly, in 1826), designer
production date: between 1789 and 1800
dating in century: 18th century
type(s) of object(s): drawing, graphic arts
name(s): drawing
materials and techniques: gouache, cardboard, paper
dimensions - artwork:
height: 36cm
width: 53. 5cm
description:
set of 83 known revolutionary gouaches, including 73 preserved at the carnavalet museum. Marks, inscriptions, hallmarks:
label - on the front of the old montage, top right, label with handwritten caption in ink: "in the enthusiasm of this freedom that we believed / to have given ourselves [sic], we imagined planting trees to / perpetuate [sic] the memory which was done in each / section with great apparatus. The national guards / accompanied the mayor, and brilliant music / made this celebration interesting [sic]". \ inscription in ink
inscription - on the front of the old montage, top right, handwritten label in ink: "34th sheet". \ inscription in ink
iconographic description:
scene: tree of liberty, ceremony, national guard, municipal officer, crowd, sans-culotte, woman, child, singer, horn; french revolution. Historical commentary:
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 method: manual donation
name of donor, testator, seller: society of friends of the carnavalet museum
date of acquisition: 1988
institution: carnavalet museum, history of paris
inventory number: d. 11975. Date: between 1789 and 1800.
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