The Rose Garden of Nanterre
1858
Edmond Morin’s bustling 1858 illustration captures the festive chaos of crowning the 'Rosière' (Rose Queen) of Nanterre, a young woman chosen for her virtue. At the top, she stands demurely in a white dress, framed by a massive, swirling wreath of roses that seems to float above the town like a halo. Below her, a lively crowd of top-hatted gentlemen, bonneted ladies, and uniformed guards marches past a church, celebrating the local tradition. The intricate black-and-white lines pack multiple perspectives into one image, blending a solemn indoor ceremony on the left with the outdoor procession, creating a busy, joyful collage of 19th-century French community pride.
- Technique
- Engraving