Artwork
The National Guard of Paris Departs for the Army
The National Guard of Paris Departs for the Army is an oil painting by the French Romanticist artist Léon Cogniet. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the Palace of Versailles.
About this work
In the center of the painting, a group of men are standing on a raised platform, surrounded by a large crowd.
This painting shows a crowd of people gathered near a river, with a large building in the background. The crowd is made up of men, women, and children, all dressed in clothing from the early 19th century. Some of the men are holding weapons, while others are standing on horseback.
In the center of the painting, a group of men are standing on a raised platform, surrounded by a large crowd. One of the men is holding a flag, while another is speaking to the crowd. The atmosphere of the painting is one of excitement and energy, with the crowd seeming to surge forward.
The painting is a depiction of a historical event, and it is held at the Palace of Versailles.
Overview
The National Guard of Paris Departs for the Army is a history painting by Léon Cogniet, created in 1834 using oil on canvas. It depicts a dynamic scene of the National Guard's departure, set against a riverside backdrop with a prominent building in the distance.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures the moment of the National Guard of Paris's departure to join the army, conveying a sense of collective energy and excitement. The gathering includes men, women, and children, with some men armed or on horseback, highlighting the community's involvement.
Technique & Style
Cogniet employs oil painting to achieve a vivid, energetic atmosphere. The composition focuses on a central platform where key figures, including a flag bearer and an orator, address the crowd, drawing the viewer's eye to the event's emotional core.
History & Provenance
Completed in 1834, the painting is now part of the collection at the Palace of Versailles, testifying to its historical significance and artistic value.
Artist & collection
Artist
Léon Cogniet (29 August 1794 – 20 November 1880) was a French history and portrait painter. He is probably best remembered as a teacher, with more than one hundred students, some of them notable.
The Artist in His Room at the Villa Medici, Rome
A Woman from the Land of Eskimos
The Italian Brigand's Wife
Louis-Philippe d'Orléans, then Duke of Chartres
Nicolas-Joseph Maison, Marshal of France
Two Dapple-Gray Horses Exercising (Deux chevaux gris pommele que l'on promene)
Flemish farrier
A Woman from the Arctic
Louis-Philippe, duc d'Orléans, lieutenant général du royaume, arrive à l'Hôtel de ville de Paris, 31 juillet 1830
Attentat de Fieschi. Revue de la Garde nationale, 28 juillet 1835
Attack on the Town Hall, July 28, 1830
Napoleon bids farewell to his Guard at Fontainebleau on 20 April 1814
Invalid handing a petition to Napoleon at the parade in the court of the Tuileries Palace
The Distribution of the Eagle Standards
Napoleon dismounting with an injured foot at Regensburg, aided by the Surgeon, Yvan, April 23, 1809
Battle on a Bridge
Napoleon I decorated a soldier of the Russian army in Tilsitt with the cross of the Legion of Honor