Author(s):
lesueur, jean-baptiste (paris, in 1749 - plailly, in 1826), designer
other titles:
vandalist. Destroyer of the productions of the arts. (inscribed title (letter)), characters dressed in the fashion of the ancien régime. (dummy title)
date of production: between 1794 and 1796
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: "there was in each section a revolutionary committee / established to search for and denounce citizens who were / not patriotic enough. Under this pretext we went to the houses / from where money, jewelry and effects were taken and the owner was / put in prison. ". \ inscription in ink
legend - on the front of the old montage, under the two gouaches on the right, label with handwritten caption in ink: "vandalist. Destroyer of the productions of the arts. Mocking [sic] the costumes / fashion before the revolution. / the ab [sic] carrying the little dog makes him laugh. ". \ inscription in ink
inscription - on the front of the old montage, top right, handwritten label in ink: "26th sheet". \ inscription in ink
stamp - front: "carnavalet"
stamp - "ml"
iconographic description:
figure: man, sans-culotte, sabre, casket, assignat, pillage / scene: statue, antique style, hammer, vandalism, heritage / scene: aristocrat, woman, abbot, dog, wig, fashion, satire, ancien régime; french revolution. Historical commentary:
critical of certain revolutionary excesses (looting, vandalism), lesueur nonetheless remains hostile to the old regime, whose preciousness he mocks here. 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. 9074. Date: between 1794 and 1796.
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