Departure of the Volunteers from Reims
1882
Fernand Lematte’s 1882 academic painting captures the electric patriotism of the French Revolution. A column of young volunteers from Reims marches through a narrow street, muskets at the ready and a massive tricolor flag waving proudly overhead. A drummer beats the rhythm while townsfolk—including a woman in a bonnet and a child covering their ears from the noise—watch the departure with a mix of pride and anxiety. The ornate border, featuring laurel wreaths and the city's name, frames this moment of historical duty like a precious memory.