The Repose of France
1834
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1834
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
The painting shows a woman sitting, representing France. She's surrounded by symbols of the country. The woman is wearing a crown and holding a scepter, which are symbols of power and authority, and there are broken chains at her feet, which may indicate freedom. This detail suggests the artist is commenting on the state of France at the time. The broken chains could represent the end of monarchic rule. Check out the work of artist Honoré Daumier (French, 1808–1879) for more like this.
