Curtius Delivers the Bust Portraits of the Duc d'Orleans and M. Necker, Which Were Then Carried in Triumph through Paris (12 July 1789) 1789

Editor: This engraving by Jean François Janinet, titled *Curtius Delivers the Bust Portraits of the Duc d'Orleans and M. Necker, Which Were Then Carried in Triumph through Paris (12 July 1789)*, captures what seems like a pivotal moment in French history. What symbols stand out to you in this work? Curator: Notice the busts being presented, objects of power now in the hands of the people. The busts themselves are potent symbols – representing leadership but now democratized. How do you interpret the raised hat? Editor: It feels like a sign of revolution, like the people are taking charge. Curator: Precisely. The raised hat is an emblem of defiance, a shared gesture connecting this specific event to larger cultural memories of uprising. What do you make of the crowd itself? Editor: They look ecstatic! It really captures the energy of the moment. Curator: Indeed. Janinet encapsulates a critical shift in power, employing recognizable symbols to tap into the emotional fervor of the Revolution. Editor: I hadn’t thought about the cultural memory embedded in those symbols. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. These emblems shaped public perception and action during the revolution, as they do today.