The French Revolution of 1848, (painting)

Object Details

artist

Philippoteaux, Felix Emmanuel Henri b. 1815

Appears in exhibition catalog as entry no. 147

"Description of the picture: from the Buffalo catalogue. 'the French Revolution of 1848' is painted on a canvas ten feet high by twenty feet long. It contains two hundred and fifty figures - many of which are portraits - and ranks among the great historical paintings of this century. The scene is in the great square of the Hotel de Ville, Paris, on the 24th of February, 1848. There has been fighting a short while ago; the pavement has been torn up for the building of a barrricade, and a cannon, which fell into the hands of the people on the capture of the Hotel de Ville, points out the picture toward the spectator. " The people have just appointed the provisional government, composed of citizens Dupont D'Eure, president; Lamartine, Francois Arago, Ledru Rollin, Louis Blanc, Pagnere Flacon, Marie Cremieux, Garniere Pages, and Armand Marat. " A great crowd, composed of representatives of the people, the army, the National guards, and the schools, is listening to the proclamation of the republic by lamartine, who stands upon a chair, surrounded by the other newly appointed administrators of public afffairs, " 'My friends,' he cries, in a loud voice, 'the republic is proclaimed, and France will Sanction our choice.' turning to citizens who carry the flags, he adds: 'the tri-colored flag has made the circuit of the world, and has covered France with glory, while, on the other hand, the red flag has only gone around the champ de mars, bathed in streams of blood.' his words are well received. " The brave General Durivier (killed in June, 1848) is seen with officers of the Chasseurs, officers of the Dragoons, and pupils of the Polytechnic School. The troops of the line signify their adhesion to the republic, holding up their muskets reversed. The National guard, in column, surrounded on all sides by the people, discharge their muskets in the air, as a sign of rejoicing at the proclamation of the republic. " There are scores of separate incidents in the picture, and portraits of many interesting personages. . . this painting has an interesting history: it was painted soon after the revolu- tion, and was very popular in Paris. When Napoleon iii re-established the empire, he considered it advisable that the picture should be suppressed, and in order to save it from governmental destruction, it was quietly sent over to America, where, after a time, it was purchased by its present owners for a large sum of money." [P. 12-14; excerpted from three-page commentary on painting. Descriptive passages concerning the specific personnages and events depicted in the picture have not been reproduced in full in this entry) "Born in Paris, 1815. Was a pupil of Cogniet. Medals - Paris, 1837 and 1840. Legion of Honor, 1846. The works of this artist are in many European galleries; he has drawn considerably for illustrated publications, and has painted several famous panoramas." [P. XLVI.]

Illustrated Catalogue of the Art Gallery of the Southern Exposition, Louisville, Ky. August 28 - October 23, 1886 Prepared by Charles M. Kurtz, Editor of National Academy Notes, Director of the Art Department. Published for the Art Committee by John P. Morton and Company, 440-446 West Main Street, Louisville, Ky.

Artist address: Paris, France.

Artist professional affiliation: F.L.H.

1876

Control number

AECI 03890147

Type

Paintings

Exhibition Catalogs

Medium

Canvas

Pre-1877 Art Exhibition Catalogue Index

Topic

History--France

Cityscape--France--Paris

Cityscape--Foreign--France

Cityscape--Street

Architecture exterior--Commercial--Hotel de Ville

Figure group

Record ID

siris_aeci_79717

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