Marie Antoinette on her way to the scaffold, by Jacques-Louis David, October 16th, 1793.
A sketch, believed to be from life, by the famous painter Jacques-Louis David of the Queen of France, or Widow Capet as she was now known (King Louis having been executed nine months earlier). Marie-Antoinette is shown in the tumbrel on her way to the guillotine on October 16, 1793.
Her farewell letter can be found here.
next episode: a dsillusioned Medea
This post is making me remember a place I visited few days ago. It is the closter of Kostanjevica (Nova Gorica, Slovenia; before 1947 in Italy with the name of Castagnevizza). Inside this closter there is a section with the tombs of some ancient kings of France. It is curious how many souvenirs, letters and fresh flowers there are, as a result of continuous pilgrimages of French people who love that monarchy.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a beautiful location!
DeleteP.S.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.samostan-kostanjevica.si/en.htm
Then, click on "Tombs of The Bourbons" in the left sidebar
or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kostanjevica_Monastery
A very poignant picture. Thank you for the link to the Letters of Note - fascinating!
ReplyDeleteLetters of Note is one of my favorite sites to read.
DeleteIt's difficult to read her face in this sketch. Is it sadness, resignation, or something else?
ReplyDelete