Description:

THE BASTILLE AND THE JULY COLUMN
A fine group of documents relative to the most iconic building of the French Revolution, includes: a partly-printed manuscript D.S. 2pp. folio, Paris, July 30, 1792, signed by deputies CLAUDE BLANCHARD (1742-1803), French officer best remembered as chief commissary to Rochambeau during the American Revolution and NICOLAS-CHARLES TRONCHON (1758-1828), French politician and Secretary of the Assembly. The document regards a request submitted by Pierre-Francois Palloy (1755-1835), French entrepreneur and owner of one of the largest building firms in Paris who was contracted to demolish the Bastille after the siege of July 14, 1789. Palloy has wished to: ‘…assemble the tools which have served to lay the first stone for the Column which will be erected in honor of liberty on the ruins of the Bastille, composed of debris from the fortress. He still offers a tablet [made of] the stone taken from the one which was the first of the monument of freedom, along with another on which the declaration of human rights is engraved, and the models of six civic medals which are referenced in the first stone of the monument proposed by the President of the delegation of the National Assembly on July 14. Finally, he asks…a favor regarding certain workers who are due salaries…'. The Assembly then ‘…grants the honor to Patriot Palloy in this session, and decrees…that the tools will be deposited in the Archives and that the tablets…will be displayed in the interior of the Hall…'. Palloy demolished the Bastille as requested; however, the National Assembly dragged its feet for a few years in paying him for his services. During this time, Palloy made the best of it by exploiting his access to the ruins for profit. He became famous for large sculptures such as the ones mentioned in our document, which he offered to local authorities all across France. He also conducted tours of the prison for a fee, made models from the stones, crafted medals, and even sold parts of the building itself as souvenirs. Notwithstanding Palloy's obvious opportunism, his suggestions about re-purposing materials from the prison are said to have inspired the later July Column erected at the Place de la Bastille in 1831, which stands to this day. Offered together with three fair copies of letters from Palloy: the first, directed to Pierre-Louis Manuel, procurer of the Paris Commune, July 4, 1792, regards a ceremony to lay the first stone of the column in the aforementioned D.S.; a second directed to ‘Les Vainquers', the men who stormed the Bastille, July 12, 1792, with patriotic content; and a third directed to the Legislative Assembly, July 31, 1792, requesting funds for the projects outlined. Very good condition, four pieces.

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January 18, 2024 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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