An officer of the gardes du corps, wearing the cross of st. Louis, stands with a drawn sword before a door leading to a long room or gallery. Within stands louis xvi holding the dauphin by the hand, while marie antoinette takes his right arm. Above their heads is etched 'save us from treatcherous friends'. The officer says, "i find there's treachery - but i'll defend my king & family to the last drop of my blood". In his hat is a favour inscribed 'vive le rot'. Hiding behind an arched doorway (right) are two people dressed as women, wearing cloaks and hats; each clutches a dagger, and below the petticoat of the foremost, orléans, protrudes a spurred boot. He says "where shall we hide our selves - my plot is marr'd. " his companion, mirabeau, who is on the extreme right, says, "damnable fool thus to serve your purpose & risk - a la lanterne". They are identified in a contemporary hand as 'o-----ns'
and 'm. B. U'. Orleans is a recognizable portrait. On the wall between the officer and the conspirators is a crucifix above a receptacle for holy-water. 19 august 1790. Hand-coloured etching. Date: 1790. Dimensions: Height: 270 mm; Width: 363 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Louis XVI, King of France and Navarre, . Collection: British Museum. Assassination (BM 1868,0808.5956)
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