Robert Eidel The Burgraves, 1912

Robert EIDEL
Les Burgraves, 1912
Oil on panel signed, dated, and titled lower right
73 x 91.5 cm

The painter chose to illustrate “Le Mendiant” (The Beggar) or the second part of the play Les Burgraves written by Victor Hugo, which was first performed at the Comédie-Française on March 7, 1843.
The moment chosen is precisely scene VI, which marks the solemn moment when Barbarossa, a mythical and imperial figure, reveals himself to the Burgraves in his beggar's costume. Indeed, the former emperor, returning from a long exile, upsets the characters in the Hall of Armor with his presence. He embodies the return of the past, the power of memory, and the confrontation between the decadence of the present and the grandeur of the past.

"While Magnus spoke, the circle of burgraves slowly closed in around the emperor. Behind the burgraves, a triple line of soldiers armed to the teeth silently took their places, above which rose the great banner of the burg, half red and half black, with a silver axe embroidered in the field of gules, and the legend under the axe: MONTI COMAM, VIRO CAPUT. The emperor, without taking a step back, held the crowd at bay. Suddenly, when Magnus had finished, one of the burgraves drew his sword.

Cadwalla,
drawing his sword.
Caesar! Caesar! Caesar! Give us back our citadels!

Darius,
drawing his sword.
Our burgs, which are now nothing more than swallows' nests!

Hatto,
drawing his sword.
Give us back our dead friends, who haunt our dungeons,
When the bitter wind of the night cries through the reeds!

Magnus,
grabbing his axe.
Ah! You rise from the grave! Well, I will push you back into it,
So that at the very moment—you understand, Barbarossa—
When the world hears a hundred voices cry out in rapture,
“He is alive!” the echo will say, “He is dead!”
Tremble, then, you fool who threatened our heads!

The burgraves, swords raised, press forward toward Barbarossa with terrible cries. Job emerges from the crowd and raises his hand. All fall silent.

Bibliography:
An oil on canvas painting of similar composition, created in 1903 by Georges-Antoine Rochegrosse (1859-1938), is kept at the Maison de Victor Hugo. It was commissioned by Paul Meurice for the museum's opening that same year.

Very good condition.

Ref.: FCP

Text and photos © FCP CORIDON