E(ra)n tiempos de desconcierto: Delacroix y su canto a la libertad

Abstract

On 27 July 1830 the Parisians built barricades in support of a popular proclamation that sought to depose a despot king (the Bourbon Charles X) for a more liberal one. The revolt proved to be successful, with Louis Philippe I coming to power on 2 August, on condition that he ruled in the interests of the people. Although this issue will be addressed below, our interest at this stage lies in granting  a prominent position to the document that gave rise to what was a state of some excitement but which –as Eugène Delacroix said– is, in summary, merely the history of an idea. This aim of this paper, therefore, is both to analyse the content provided in this work and the extent to which we are in a position to evaluate the meaning of the iconic statement, in other words, to critically approach the message of the painting (Liberty Leading the People, 1830-31), which was associated with the ideals of the 1789 Revolution and to which the new “Citizen King”, Louis Philippe I, paid tribute in reviving the use of the Tricolour as a symbol of France in 1831.