Scale models of the Bastille

Scale models of the Bastille were produced between 1789 and 1790 by the businessman Pierre-François Palloy using stones from the demolition of the Bastille, the building they portray.

Musée Carnavalet in Paris.
Musée Carnavalet in Paris.

History

Following the fall of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 Palloy decided to take charge of its demolition, gaining official authorisation to do so on 16 July and completing work on 21 May 1791. Stones from the former fortress were used on several building projects, notably Pont de la Concorde, but Palloy also converted salvaged stones and other materials into souvenirs, such as stone plaques made from stones from the dungeons,[1][2] medals made from chains[3] and so on, thus launching a fashion for representations of the fall.[3]

When the 83 départements were founded at the end of 1789 Palloy decided to make a scale model of the Bastille from its stones for each of the départements' capitals. He set up a studio dedicated to producing them, initially carved from the stones, then mass-produced by casting a mix of stone powder and mortar.[4] He offered the scale models to the départements at the end of 1790, sending with them other products and an "apostle of Liberty" (an association set up by Palloy himself), who would give a speech when the gifts were handed over.[3][4] Scale models were also offered to government ministers, to Louis XVI and to foreign dignitaries such as George Washington (his is still on display at Mount Vernon).

The scale models were around 40 cm high, 100 cm wide and 60 cm deep and were presented to the public at patriotic festivals[5] and contributed to turning the Bastille's fall into a republican myth and symbol of liberty/[3]

Surviving examples
Musée d'art et d'histoire de Saint-Brieuc

Surviving examples include :

Bibliography
  • (in French) Jean-Pierre Babelon, 'Les maquettes et les pierres de la Bastille. Récolement des souvenirs lapidaires provenant de l'activité du patriote Pallo', La Gazette des archives, 1965[9]

References
  1. (in French) "Base Palissy entry".
  2. (in French) "Base Palissy entry".
  3. (in French) "Catalogue entry".
  4. (in French) "Base Palissy entry".
  5. (in French) "Catalogue entry". Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2023-02-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. (in French) guide de la visite du musée, 1995.
  7. (in French) "Base Joconde entry".
  8. (in French) "Base Palissy entry".
  9. (in French) "Les maquettes et les pierres de la Bastille. Récolement des souvenirs lapidaires provenant de l'activité du patriote Palloy".
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