"Louison, Du Pain ! - Adrien Gaudez 1845-1902"
Adrien Etienne Gaudez 1845-1902 Period Head model in plaster presented at the Salon of French Artists in 1889 Acquired by the State in 1892 Provenance France School French school of sculpture Dimensions Height: approx. 60 cm Width: approx. 29 cm Depth: approx. 22 cm Weight: 17.20 kg Terrace: 19 X 17 cm Signature Rear right of the terrace: A. Gaudez Cartel on the edge of the terrace bearing the title of the sculpture: Louison the flower girl at the head of the women of the Halle. October 5, 1789 Material Bronze proof with brown patina.Composed of several parts, it is complete. It rests on a slightly rectangular terrace. Patina slightly worn in places.
Anger grows. Bitterness swells and resonates in the hollow stomachs of Parisians. The bakeries are empty. For a while, the supply of wheat has been no longer, or very badly, in the capital. The bread is missing. And so we learned, on October 2, 1789, that the day before, at the Royal Opera of Versailles, a grand banquet had been given for the Flanders Regiment, which had just returned to its home in Versailles. Enough is enough ! Discontent boils, swells and grows. On the morning of October 5, it exploded.
The poissardes, these vigorous women from Les Halles gather in the Saint-Antoine district. It's decided, they're going to Versailles: "We're going to get bread!" she chants to the rhythm of the drum beat by a young 17-year-old flower girl, Louise Marguerite Chabry, but whom everyone calls Louison. Driven by aggressiveness, excitement and fury, no doubt also an excessive consumption of wine, the "Ladies of the Market" walk with a firm step towards Versailles. Men slipped into the procession, dressed in women's clothing to go incognito.
A small detour by the Hôtel de Ville and the troops loot the arms store. And as there is no harm in doing good, rob the municipality's money reserves in the process. Arriving in Sèvres, the "Ladies of the Market" are surprised by a violent downpour which does not spare them. It takes more, much more to discourage them. Galvanized by the drum of Louison, they shout, howl, chant more or less graceful imprecations against Marie-Antoinette, made responsible for their miseries. They arrive at Versailles completely unleashed. They are between 6,000 and 7,000;
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