Dimensions: height 368 mm, width 309 mm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
This print by Philippus Jacobus Brepols, made in 1820, depicts the assassination of the Duc de Berry in Paris. The image presents the event in a series of sequential scenes, like a comic strip, with captions in both French and Dutch. The assassination of the Duc de Berry was a pivotal moment in French history, intensifying the political tensions between liberals and conservatives during the Bourbon Restoration. As the nephew of Louis XVIII and the only member of the royal family with children, the Duke's death threatened the succession of the monarchy. Brepols' print, with its clear narrative and accessible style, speaks to the wider context of political instability and the use of popular imagery to shape public opinion. To understand it better, researchers can consult contemporary newspapers, political pamphlets, and police records. These provide insight into the social and institutional context in which this image was made and consumed. Art, in this case, becomes a window into a turbulent period of French history.
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