Historic 19th Century French Print, Framed
in Period Frame
Rouget de Lisle, Composer of the Marseillaise,
sings the French National Anthem
for the first time
At one time, nearly every patriotic
French home kept an image of this famous scene
in which the composer Rouget de L'Isle, sings
the Marseillaise (the French national anthem)
for the first time. This wonderful old print
was published by Wenzel of Wissembourg, a famous
Alsacian firm which made vivid color lithographs,
and children's paper toys. Indeed there is something
wonderfully simple and child like in the vibrant
colors in this print.
Rouget de L'Isle and the Marseillaise:
The national anthem of France was composed
during a period of national and popular revolutions
in Europe and in France. The caption reads "Rouget
de L'Isle, at the home of the Mayor of Strasbourg,
sings for the first time the Marseillaise which
he had just composed (1792).
The engineer and composer, Claude Joseph Rouget
de Lisle was born in 1760 in Lons-le-Saunier.
In April 1792, Rouget de lisle
was posted in Strasbourg. The King of Austria
had just just declared war, and Rouget de L'Isle
composed a song he called "Chant de guerre
de l'armée du Rhin" (The War Song
of the Army of the Rhine). He sang it for the
first time in the living room of Philippe de
Dietrich, the Mayor of Strasbourg. This is the
scene depicted in this image.
Although it was intended for
the soldiers of the army of the Rhine, the song
was printed and quickly spread across France,
becoming very popular. When insurrectionist
from Marseilles entered Paris in August 1792
to participate in the insurrection of the Tuileries,
they sang Rouget de L'Isle's battle song. This
is how Parisians came to call the song, the
"Marseillaise."
Wenzel of Wissembourg Printing Press:
Founded by Wentzel in the 1835, the Wissembourg
press in Alsace created brilliantly colored
lithographs for the general public and for children.
Wissembourg was a competitor of another well
known producer of similar color lithographs,
Epinal.
The text below the Print reads:
Lith. Wenzel, Wissembourg, Alsace, Gadola &
Cie editeurs, 8 cours de Brosses, Lyon, Depose,
V Gosselin a Paris.
Condition: The print is
in good condition, but has a couple of tiny
holes. These are in the white border around
the image (not in the center of the picture.)
The frame is in poor condition.
Dimensions: In frame, 14.5
X 11.5 inches
