Berlioz in Paris
Colonne de Juillet (Place de la Bastille)
On 27, 28 and 29 July 1830, Paris rose in revolt and overthrew the monarchy of Charles X, events which were witnessed by Berlioz himself just after the completion of his cantata Sardanapale, written for the Prix de Rome of 1830 (cf. Memoirs chapter 29). Later that year the government decided to build on the Place de la Bastille a commemorative bronze column in honour of the victims of the "Trois Glorieuses" — the three glorious days of the revolution. Work started in 1833 and was completed in 1840. The inauguration of the column was accompanied by the solemn transfer of the bodies of the victims, and Berlioz was commissioned to write the music for the occasion. This was his Symphonie Funèbre et Triomphale, which was performed in the open air under the direction of Berlioz himself, leading the procession of musicians which ended at the Place de la Bastille (Memoirs chapter 50).
On the column are inscribed the names of those who fought during the revolution. The gilded statue at the top of the column represents a winged personification of Liberty.
Colonne de Juillet – Place de la Bastille
The base of the column
The dates shown, 27, 28 and 29 July 1830, are those of the three days of the revolution, the "Trois Glorieuses".
The inscription on the base reads: "For the glory of the French citizens who took up arms and fought in defense of public liberties in the memorable days of 27, 28, and 29 July 1830".
The inscriptions reads: "Law of 13 December
1830, art. 15: A monument will be consecrated in memory of the events of July.
Law of 9 March 1833, art. 2: This monument will be erected on the Place de la
Bastille".
Place de la Bastille in the 19th century
Place de la Bastille in 1841
This is an 1880 lithograph by F. Hoffbauer of a
picture dated 1841. The lithograph is in our own collection.
Place de la Bastille circa 1898
This picture was originally published in John L. Stoddards Lectures, Volume V – Paris La Belle France and Spain, by John L. Stoddard (Balch Brothers, 1898), in our own collection.
Place de la Bastille in the early 20th century
This picture has been scanned
from a 1912 postcard in our collection.
© 2000-2006 (unless otherwise stated) Michel Austin and Monir Tayeb for all the photos, engravings and information on this and other Berlioz in Paris pages
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