Jean-Guillaume Moitte (Paris 1746-1810)
Jean-Guillaume Moitte (Paris 1746-1810)

Design for a victory monument commemorating the dead of the French Republican Wars

Details
Jean-Guillaume Moitte (Paris 1746-1810)
Design for a victory monument commemorating the dead of the French Republican Wars
dated 'L'AN IV [1796 7]' and extensively inscribed
black chalk, pen and grey ink, grey, brown and blue wash
17¾ x 12¾ in. (452 x 325 mm.)

Lot Essay

The conjunction of the names of Napoleon and of Marie-Louise, daughter of the Emperor Francis I of Austria, allows us to date this drawing with some precision to the period between Napoleon's second marriage in April 1810 and Moitte's death on May 2 of the same year. The monument itself may commemorate the dead of the French army, raised by general conscription of those aged 18-25 after about 1793, that repulsed the armies of the Coalition. The attribution to Moitte was confirmed by Gisela Gramaccini, while the above information was kindly prepared by Dr. Richard J. Campbell.

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