French Constitution, Rights of Man and Citizen

http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/files/original/6da6a63dd25b701326b542e6b8fa8ca0.jpg

Title

French Constitution, Rights of Man and Citizen

Description

This image of the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen includes a fascinating mix of symbols. By arranging the articles on tablets, the artist clearly meant to associate this document with Moses’ Ten Commandments. Such a link could establish the revolutionaries’ handiwork as equivalent to that of God. Reinforcing this is the all–seeing eye located at the top of the tableau. However, this is not the God of biblical revelation but of the Masonic order, which espoused a deistic vision of a benevolent creator and founder of general laws. This deity was not a worker of miracles. Thus the Declaration results from the actions of humankind, who enjoy the beneficence of the generous deity.

Creator

None Identified

Source

Museé de la Révolution Française, Vizille

Rights

All Rights Reserved

Relation

http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/55/

Format

JPEG

Language

French

Identifier

55

Original Format

Engraving

Title (French)

Constitution Française, droits de l'Homme et du Citoyen

Citation

None Identified, “French Constitution, Rights of Man and Citizen,” LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY: EXPLORING THE FRENCH REVOUTION, accessed March 28, 2024, https://revolution.chnm.org/d/55.