Artwork
Prise de la Bastille, le 14 Juillet 1789
Prise de la Bastille, le 14 Juillet 1789 is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Thévenin. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1790, this etching by Charles Thévenin illustrates the assault on the Bastille on 14 July 1789. Executed on laid paper, the print presents a densely populated foreground where figures brandish weapons, some lie wounded or lifeless, while a fortified structure with a tower looms behind amid trees and a cloud‑filled sky.
Subject & Meaning
The image records the violent climax of the early French Revolution, emphasizing the collective force of the crowd and the dramatic collapse of royal authority symbolised by the fortress. By foregrounding the turmoil and casualties, the work conveys the urgency and upheaval that defined the event.
Technique & Style
Thévenin employed etching to render fine lines and varied shading, achieving texture and depth across the chaotic scene. The composition reflects neoclassical principles of clear arrangement and heroic narrative, yet the expressive detailing of bodies and smoke infuses the print with heightened emotional intensity.
History & Provenance
Born in 1764, Thévenin was active during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods, gaining recognition for large‑scale historical compositions. This particular print, produced shortly after the Bastille’s fall, circulated as a visual record of the revolution’s pivotal moment, though specific ownership trails remain undocumented.
Context
The storming of the Bastille marked a turning point in 1789, igniting widespread revolutionary fervour across France. Contemporary artists like Thévenin responded to the event by documenting it in visual media, contributing to the emerging public memory that linked artistic representation with political change.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Thévenin (12 July 1764 – 28 February 1838) was a neoclassical French painter, known for heroic scenes from the time of the French Revolution and First French Empire.
