| Title: |
30 Avril 1849 (Expedition the Siege of Rome, 30 April 1849) |
| Artist: |
Raffet, Denis Auguste Marie (Paris, 1804 - Genoa,
1860) |
| Date: |
1850 |
| Medium: |
Original Lithograph |
| Publisher: |
Gihaut, Paris |
| Printer: |
Auguste Bry, Paris |
| Note: |
Denis Auguste Marie Raffet: One of France's greatest
lithographic artists of the early nineteenth century, Denis Auguste
Raffet began his artistic career as a wood turner and decorator of porcelain
in the studio of Cabanal. In 1824 he became a student at the Ecole des
Beaux Arts and studied lithography under both Gros and Charlet. He then
became an apprentice of Charlet for a period of five years. |
| |
Raffet's first published lithographs date from 1826.
During the following three decades he created almost eight hundred original
lithographs depicting figure studies, satirical subjects and military
scenes. It was in this latter category, however, where Denis Auguste Raffet achieved
his greatest fame and his portrayals of Napoleon are among the finest
created. One scholar writes, |
| |
"The nostalgia-laden Napoleonic imagery of
Denis Auguste Raffet inspired many of his generation. 'Sublime' and 'genius' are
terms in which his talent and his work were described. Raffet's
heroism of subject and his powerful technique approach the realms
of high art." *
|
| |
From 1830 to 1837 Denis Auguste Raffet produced yearly 'Album lithographiques'
for the Paris publisher, Gihaut freres. Each album contained twelve
original lithographs and many dealt with the Napoleonic legend. After
1837, Denis Auguste Raffet traveled to the Crimea where he created many lithographs
detailing the life and military conflicts in that area. In his later
years he visited a number of European countries under the patronage
of Prince Demidoff. |
| Source: |
Expedition et Siege de Rome (Expedition
and Siege of Rome) |
| |
30 Avril 1849 hails from Denis Auguste Raffet's last great
set of original lithographs, Expedition et Siege de Rome (Expedition and Siege of Rome). In
total he created thirty-six large lithographs for the set from 1850
to 1859. All were published in Paris by Gihaut and printed by Auguste
Bry. Each clearly shows his genius at depicting then contemporary events
and warfare. Raffet's lithographic art consists of superbly arranged
compositions and tonal effects which result in strong, emotional imagery.
By means of his masterful technique, his images of warfare take on a
monumental life of their own. Not surprisingly, many scholars have compared
Denis Raffet's art to that of his great Romantic contemporary, Eugene Delacroix.
His lithographs inspired an entire generation of artists and writers
(such as Balzac) to explore his Romantic visions. |
| |
Raffet's original lithograph contains a description of the
scene printed under the image, it reads; "Une Colonne formee du
20e et du 33e. lancee au pas du course sur la route mitraille, partie
du saillant du Vatican" It depicts a battle scene showing the French
army charging towards Rome, 30, April, 1849. Other original impressions of "30 Avril 1849"
are housed in important museums such as The National Gallery of Australia Accession No: 97236,
the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Accession Number M22536, the Fitz Museum,
Accession Number P. 237-1991 and others. |
| |
A Historical Note: The Siege of Rome forms an
interesting chapter in the history of France, in the Italian quest for
unification and in the history of the Papacy. In 1848 Pope Pius IX was
driven from Rome by forces seeking to unite the Italian states. A Roman
Republic was then formed under the famous revolutionary leaders, Garibaldi
and Mazzini. France was anything but sympathetic to the notion of a
strong and united Italy and formed a large army to invade Rome. After
a determined resistance Rome was captured by the French army in July
of 1849, and the Pope returned to resume his powers under the protection
of French bayonets in April, 1850. The Papacy continued to rule Rome
until June, 1871, when the modern nation of Italy was formed. |
| Raisonne: |
H. Giacomelli, Raffet: Son Oeuvre Lithographique
et Ses Eaux-Fortes, Paris, Bureaux de la Gazette des Beaux-Arts,
1862. |
| |
Catalogue #562. First state of two as published in Paris
in 1850 for the Expedition et Siege de Rome. Giacomelli relates
that first state impressions of these lithographs were printed on China
paper and pressed onto wove paper bearing both the full title and the
extra border lines. Second state impressions were also printed upon
China paper but laid onto a blank sheet of wove paper. |
| Reference: |
* Beatrice Farwell, The Charged Image: French Lithographic
Caricature, 1816 - 1848, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara,
1989, p. 139. |
| Size: |
9 1/2 X 15 1/2 (Sizes in inches are approximate,
height preceding width of plate-mark or image.) |
| |
Matted with 100% Archival Materials |
| Condition: |
Printed upon thin China paper and impressed onto another
sheet of thick, wove paper as published in the first state. Bearing
some foxing within the image and uneven trimming in the lower margin,
else a finely printed impression and in good condition throughout. Signed
in the stone to the lower left, "Raffet 1850". 30 Avril 1849
represents a prime example of the famous military art of Denis Auguste
Raffet. |
| Price: |
Sold - The price is no longer available. |
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