art.wikisort.org - Painting

The Republic, known in French as La République, is an oil on canvas painting by French artist Honoré Daumier, created in 1848. It is a sketch made for a contest that would decide an official painting destined to represent the French Second Republic. It is held at the Musée d'Orsay, in Paris.[1]

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The Republic
Artist	Honoré Daumier
Year	1848
Medium	oil on canvas
Dimensions	73 cm × 60 cm (29 in × 24 in)
Location	Musée d'Orsay, Paris

History and description

The French Second Republic was proclaimed at 24 February 1848, to replace deposed king Louis Philippe. The new regimen started a competition at 14 March 1848 for a sketch that would define the official image of the republic. Daumier, who was a republican and a firm supporter of the new regimen, was one of the 700 artists who entered the competition, including Jean-Léon Gérôme and Hippolyte Flandrin, with their final sketches shown at the École des Beaux-Arts of Paris, from 5 to 8 April 1848.[2][3]

The painting of Daumier, who was basically known as a caricaturist, attracted plenty of attention for his composition, who seemed inspired by the Italian painter Andrea del Sarto work Charity. It represents a half-naked woman, representing the republic, seated, with long brown hair, wearing the Phrygian cap and holding proudly the French tricolor flag with her right hand. The big and muscular woman is seen breastfeeding two also muscular toddlers, while a third child is seated at her feet, concentrated on her reading. The official website of the Musée d'Orsay states that "This "big woman" summed up an ideal, that of a strong republic, nourishing and educating her children. A "fertile, serene and glorious" republic claiming its descent from the first great republic which had abolished slavery; the republic whose flag had circled the world."[1]

Daumier had positive critics and was placed in the 11th place in the contest. However, he didn't took place in the final selection, since he never made the expected final painting.[1][2]

References

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