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Guillotine Collection (#8)

"From Christmas Crackers to the French Revolution

Background imageGuillotine Collection: Queen Marie Antoinette with her Children in the Park of Trianon, 1785 (oil on canvas)

Queen Marie Antoinette with her Children in the Park of Trianon, 1785 (oil on canvas)
3086710 Queen Marie Antoinette with her Children in the Park of Trianon, 1785 (oil on canvas) by Wertmuller, Adolf Ulrich (1751-1811); 276x194 cm; Nationalmuseum, Stockholm

Background imageGuillotine Collection: Cartoon Showing Robespierre Guillotining The Executioner After Having Guillotined Everyone Else In

Cartoon Showing Robespierre Guillotining The Executioner After Having Guillotined Everyone Else In France. Maximilien Fran

Background imageGuillotine Collection: Le Boureau, French Habits No. 6, 1798

Le Boureau, French Habits No. 6, 1798
Le Boureau, French Habits No. 6, pub. 1798 (hand coloured engraving)

Background imageGuillotine Collection: Page cutting guillotine in use at a South Yorkshire printing company, 1959. Artist

Page cutting guillotine in use at a South Yorkshire printing company, 1959. Artist
Page cutting guillotine in use at a printing company, Mexborough, South Yorkshire, 1959. Printed pages are cut to size

Background imageGuillotine Collection: The distribution of milk at Saint-Lazare prison, ca 1794. Artist: Robert, Hubert (1733-1808)

The distribution of milk at Saint-Lazare prison, ca 1794. Artist: Robert, Hubert (1733-1808)
The distribution of milk at Saint-Lazare prison, ca 1794. Private Collection

Background imageGuillotine Collection: Madame Elisabeth de France, sister of the King, before the guillotine on 10th May 1794, c. 1795

Madame Elisabeth de France, sister of the King, before the guillotine on 10th May 1794, c. 1795. Found in the collection of British Library

Background imageGuillotine Collection: The Call for the Last Victims of the Terror, 7-9 Thermidor, Year 2 (25-27 July 1794)

The Call for the Last Victims of the Terror, 7-9 Thermidor, Year 2 (25-27 July 1794). Found in the collection of Musee de l Histoire de France, Chateau de Versailles

Background imageGuillotine Collection: Le Matin: At the Foot of the Scaffold, 1893. Artist: Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri, de (1864-1901)

Le Matin: At the Foot of the Scaffold, 1893. Artist: Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri, de (1864-1901)
Le Matin: At the Foot of the Scaffold, 1893. From a private collection

Background imageGuillotine Collection: Doctor Guillotine demonstrates a model of his device used to carry out death penalties in France. Dr

Doctor Guillotine demonstrates a model of his device used to carry out death penalties in France. Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, 1738 - 1814. French physician, politician, freemason

Background imageGuillotine Collection: Engraving depicting different applications of the lever

Engraving depicting different applications of the lever, such as a spade, a hammer head attached to a handle, and the shoemakers guillotine. Dated 19th Century

Background imageGuillotine Collection: Marie Antoinette guillotine 1793 October 16 Place de la RA volution

Marie Antoinette guillotine 1793 October 16 Place de la RA volution
Marie Antoinette is brought to the guillotine, 1793, Marie Antoinette is brought to the guillotine on October 16, 1793 at Place de la Revolution (nowadays Place de la Concorde)

Background imageGuillotine Collection: Sydney Carton About To Be Guillotined. It Is A Far, Far Better Thing That I Do

Sydney Carton About To Be Guillotined. It Is A Far, Far Better Thing That I Do. From A Tale Of Two Cities By Charles Dickens, Published London 1903

Background imageGuillotine Collection: Cartoon, Promis d Horrors of the French Invasion

Cartoon, Promis d Horrors of the French Invasion, or, Forcible Reasons for negotiating a Regicide Peace, Vide, The Authority of Edmund Burke, by James Gillray

Background imageGuillotine Collection: CRUIKSHANK, George (1792-1878). Cartoon called A

CRUIKSHANK, George (1792-1878). Cartoon called A Radical Reformer, i.e. A Neck or Nothing Man! Dedicated to the Heads of the Nation. It was published by Thomas Tegg of Cheapside on 17 September 1819

Background imageGuillotine Collection: Paper cutting machine

Paper cutting machine
Antique illustration of Paper cutting machine

Background imageGuillotine Collection: Line cutter machine

Line cutter machine
Antique illustration of line cutter machine

Background imageGuillotine Collection: The Burning of the Guillotine on the Place Voltaire; Paris C

The Burning of the Guillotine on the Place Voltaire; Paris C
Illustration showing the Communards burning a guillotine in the Place Voltaire, during the Paris Commune of 1871. The Communards burned or destroyed a number of symbols of power in Paris

Background imageGuillotine Collection: ANTI-FRENCH CARTOON, 1798. Destruction of the French Collossus. The French Republic

ANTI-FRENCH CARTOON, 1798. Destruction of the French Collossus. The French Republic, caricatured as a bloodstained monster with the head of the guillotined King Louis XVI around its neck

Background imageGuillotine Collection: French Revolution: Last victims of the Reign of Terror being taken to the guillotine in a tumbril

French Revolution: Last victims of the Reign of Terror being taken to the guillotine in a tumbril. Engraving

Background imageGuillotine Collection: Cartoon by Harold Auerbach, The Era of June?

Cartoon by Harold Auerbach, The Era of June? A comment on the controversial political issues of tariff reform, free trade, home rule and socialism. Date: 1910




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"From Christmas Crackers to the French Revolution: Unveiling the Dark History of the Guillotine" Step into a world where overtime at a Christmas cracker factory by William Heath Rob takes an unexpected turn, leading us down a chilling path towards one of history's most notorious inventions – the guillotine. Delaroche's haunting painting, "Guillotine. The Carmelites of Compiegne, " transports us back to the first half of the 19th century, where this macabre device played a central role in France's turbulent history. Intriguingly depicted in an American cartoon from 1798 on the XYZ Affair as "Cinque-Tetes or the Paris Monster, " we witness how five-man Directory ruling France demanded money at daggers point - quite literally. The execution of Louis XVI in Place de la Revolution on January 21st, 1793, captured in vivid detail during that era, reminds us of both its historical significance and gruesome nature. Even Louis XVI himself seemed resigned to his fate as he does his best to face what awaits him. But let's not forget that behind every dark tale lies credit due – Emma Peel discussing a model guillotine with our mysterious protagonist reveals just how deeply this invention has permeated popular culture. Charles Valaze, Marie Antoinette & Son, Jeanne-Marie Roland – names forever etched into history thanks to their unfortunate encounters with this fearsome contraption. A real depiction from Paris between 1791-1792 shows us just how tangible and terrifying this instrument truly was. Its presence loomed large over society during those tumultuous times. As we reflect upon these hints scattered throughout various artworks and historical accounts, it becomes clear that the guillotine holds more than mere fascination for morbid curiosities; it represents an indelible mark on humanity’s collective memory – reminding us never to forget the dark chapters of our past.