Description
This Mathieu Mole engraving depicts a dramatic episode at the Paris barricades during the Fronde in 1648. Dating from around 1840 the print bears the inscriptions “Peint par Vincent” and “Gravé par Delaunay” beneath the image.
Mathieu Molé stands at the centre of a crowded street surrounded by armed men. His composed posture contrasts with the animated gestures of the figures confronting him. Women and a child occupy the foreground while a receding row of timber-framed houses creates a strong sense of depth.
The composition offers a wealth of detail in the historical costumes and weapons as well as the expressive faces and architectural setting. Fine engraved lines describe the folds of the clothing and the changing tones of the street scene.
The engraved caption reads “Mathieu Molé aux Barricades” followed by “27 août 1648”. This identifies the historical event represented. The print itself dates from approximately 1840 and provides a nineteenth-century interpretation of the seventeenth-century scene.
Its combination of Parisian history and dramatic storytelling makes this antique print an appealing addition to a collection of French historical engravings.
Details
Subject: Mathieu Molé at the Paris barricades.
Historical event: 27 August 1648 as stated in the caption.
Print date: circa 1840.
Printed artist credits: Vincent and Delaunay.
Medium: engraving on paper.
Sheet dimensions: 23.9 × 20 cm.
Image dimensions: 16.4 × 15 cm.
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