Assault and capture of bastion no. 6, from Souvenirs d’Italie: Expédition de Rome 1858

Auguste Raffet created this lithograph, "Assault and capture of bastion no. 6, from Souvenirs d’Italie: Expédition de Rome," depicting a scene from the French expedition to Rome. It freezes a moment during the Siege of Rome in 1849, when French troops fought to restore Pope Pius IX to power. Raffet, celebrated for his military scenes, captures the relentless advance of French soldiers. What's striking is the emotional landscape Raffet builds into the print. It is as though you can feel the weight of political and religious conflict bearing down on ordinary soldiers who, despite their unity of purpose, are caught in the gears of a larger ideological battle. This work provides insight into France’s political and religious motivations at the time, while also highlighting the human cost of these conflicts. Raffet’s composition invites us to reflect on the complex interplay of power, faith, and human experience in times of war.