Louis Eighteenth raising France from the ruins

1814 Allegory of the return of the Bourbons on 24th April. Now in the Palace of Versailles.

How could the newly restored king have been so stupid?

Talleyrand, the French Diplomat said “the King has learnt nothing and forgotten nothing.” This dreadful picture confirms his words. It could have been painted in the France of before the Revolution. The painting writes off the French Revolutionary period as a disaster to be forgotten.  All will be well with a new king in control.

The complacency is mindblowingly ignorant. Look at the throne in the background, the gilt Lily emblem is back in force, as a crown shows proudly at the top of the throne. Behind the throne is an enormous red canopy.

The King is at the centre, complete with crown and sceptre and in mediaeval uniform, lifting a figure of France in a white dress.  White is of course the colour of the Bourbon flag.  Her bosoms show while the king seems to have a cloth in this hand rather than touch her.

There was no new constitution.  It was not acceptable to a king holding office from God himself via the Catholic Church. The only deal on the table was a “Charter” a medieval device whereby a king might make peace with his subjects.  This charter is worth looking at closely in another blog. 

The ornamental figures in the foreground are strange.  Three putti seem to be holding a mirror to the unfortunate France.   Besides them in the centre seem to be gold and riches.  Two naked adult figures in the right foreground look on.  I haven’t a clue what they represent.  If anyone can enlighten me I would be grateful.

The King was not alone in his complacency. He returned courtesy of the Crowned heads of Europe. Why? Because it calmed their own fears about the desire for liberty running so strongly through Europe.

Too late! The genie was out of the bottle - in France at least.