The Print Collection, ca. 1776 -
 
 
 
Caricatures SERIES XIX.  CARICATURES

Series XIX through XXIV contain prints which relate to the life of the Marquis de Lafayette.  Caricatures of Lafayette are found in Series XIX (Box 13) and predominantly take the form of French political cartoons dating 1789 to 1832.  Highlights of this series include two caricatures by Honore Daumier (1801-1879).  The first is entitled "Le Cauchemar" (XIX.4) and is published under Daumier's pseudonym, Rogelin.  In this caricature, Lafayette is seen asleep on a sofa with a huge pear, symbolizing Louis-Philippe, resting upon his stomach.  The print, dating ca. 1830, translates as "The Nightmare."  The second Daumier print is entitled "Enfonce Lafayette" (XIX.12) and displays Louis-Philippe as a hypocritical mourner at Lafayette's funeral in 1834, saying, "Take that, Lafayette; I bet you're beaten now."  It has been described as one of Daumier's greatest works as well as one of the masterpieces of the art of lithography.

Symbolic Compositions SERIES XX.  SYMBOLIC COMPOSITIONS

Symbolic compositions involving Lafayette or relating to events in his life are found in the prints of Series XX (Box 13).  Compositions portrayed here date from Lafayette's involvement in the French Revolution to his political involvements of 1830. 

Members of Family SERIES XXI.  MEMBERS OF FAMILY

Portraits of members of Lafayette's family are arranged alphabetically in Series XXI (Box 13).  Prints include those of two of his children, George Washington and Virginie, as well as his wife, Adrienne de Noailles de Lafayette.

Scenes from the Life:  1776-1834 SERIES XXII.  SCENES FROM THE LIFE:  1776-1834

Series XXII (Box 14-15) provides a detailed visual history of the events in Lafayette's political career.  The majority of the prints in Series XXII deal with events relating to the French Revolution and date from 1789 to 1792, but images also depict his participation in the American Revolution (1777-1781), his imprisonment at Olmütz (1790s), his Farewell Tour of America (1824-25), his role in French politics (1830), and his death (1834).

While most of the prints in Series XXII depict specific events in Lafayette's life, several maps relating to these events are included here as well.  Examples include a map of Rhode Island showing the positions of the American and British armies at the siege of Newport on August 29, 1778 (XXII.8.2), diagrams of the seating arrangements at the French Chambres des Deputes for the sessions of 1818-1819 and 1821-1822 (XXII.49.2-3), and a map showing Lafayette's itinerary during his 1824-25 tour of America (XXII.54.2).

 
Homes-Chavaniac and LaGrange SERIES XXIII.  HOMESCHAVANIAC AND LAGRANGE

The homes of Lafayette in France, Chavaniac and LaGrange, are depicted in the prints of Series XXIII (Box 15).  Chateau Chavaniac, the birthplace of Lafayette in 1757, still stands in the province of Auvergne.  Lafayette's home later in life was LaGrange, an estate located approximately 50 kilometers southeast of Paris, between the small towns of Courpaley and Rozay-en-Brie.  Several of the views of LaGrange in this collection are prints based on paintings by American artist Alvan Fisher.  These views were later used ca. 1830 as the designs for the transfer-prints on Staffordshire dinnerware created by the English ceramic company of Enoch Wood & Sons.  Examples of these Fisher scenes on ceramics are located in the Marquis de Lafayette Memorabilia Collection (I.1,3,4,5,6,14).

Associates-French and American Revolutions
SERIES XXIV.  ASSOCIATESFRENCH AND AMERICAN REVOLUTIONS

Series XXIV (Box 15-16) offers an extensive visual record of Lafayette's associates in both the American and French Revolutions.  Individual portraits of these military and political figures are organized alphabetically.  Approximately 70 different individuals are portrayed in over 125 prints, comprising the largest series of the print collections.  Most of those depicted are participants in the French Revolution.

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