Opening session of the General Assembly, 5 May 1789

The work was executed in 1839 by Auguste Couder, who was commissioned by the French government to depict the opening of the Estates‑General on 5 May 1789. After its completion the canvas entered the collection of the Museum of the History of France at the Palace of Versailles, where it remains today. The painting was first shown at the Salon of 1840 and later documented in the Joconde inventory (MV 2275; INV 3388; LP 3797). Its dimensions (400 × 715 cm) and oil‑on‑canvas technique reflect the academic historic‑painting tradition of the period.

Auguste Couder’s painting is held in the collections of the Palace of Versailles under three inventory numbers: MV 2275, INV 3388, and LP 3797. It has been located at the Museum of the History of France within the palace since entering the national collections. The work was first exhibited at the Salon of 1840 in Paris, marking its sole documented exhibition history according to available records.

The painting records the opening of the Estates‑General on 5 May 1789 and was executed by Auguste Couder in 1839 as a history painting. After its creation the work entered the collection of the Museum of the History of France at Versailles and was first shown at the Salon of 1840, a venue that cemented its public visibility. Its inclusion in the Joconde inventory (notice 000PE005448) and continued display in the national museum underscore its lasting reputation as a visual reference for the revolutionary opening session.

Auguste Couder's oil painting, Opening session of the General Assembly, 5 May 1789, completed in 1839, captures a pivotal moment preceding the French Revolution. The large-scale work meticulously renders a grand assembly hall, filled with formally dressed figures. A central orator on a raised platform commands attention, surrounded by rows of seated and standing attendees.

The detailed depiction conveys an atmosphere of solemn ceremony, reflecting the gravity of the historical event it commemorates.

Auguste Couder's career flourished within the French academic system. His training under prominent Neoclassical painters like Regnault and David shaped his approach to grand historical narratives. His later recognition as an officer of the Légion d'honneur and a member of the Académie des beaux-arts attests to his standing within the artistic establishment of his time, solidifying his reputation as a respected history painter.