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Description: | The Landing of Louis XVIII at Calais is one of Edward Bird's largest and most complicated works. It shows the King of France's return from exile in England after the defeat of Napoleon in 1814. Bird was with the party travelling with Louis to France and did portrait studies of all the main figures during the journey. In the final painting he also included himself holding his hat and sketchbook. The triumphant banners, ribbons and dresses worn by the ladies on the quayside are white, the colour adopted by the French monarchist party. British troops had played a major part in defeating Napoleon and Bird expressed his nation's pride when he wrote, "I should deem it my duty to do all in my power to perpetuate an event so highly honourable to this country".
Edward Bird started his life as a son of a poor Wolverhampton carpenter and finished as a member of the Royal Academy of Arts and court painter to Charlotte, Princess of Wales. He was the only 18th century local artist who became a Royal Academician. Among his many works are landscapes, portraits, fancy pictures, book illustrations, domestic scenes and historical paintings. In 1814 he began his ambitious project - to depict contemporary history: the fall of Napoleon, restoration of the French monarchy, and return of Louis XVIII to France which Bird considered "the fundamental cause of bringing about the tranquillity of the civilised world". On the far right of the painting he included himself, holding his hat and sketchbook. A companion picture The Embarkation of Louis XVIII is in the collection of Bristol Art Gallery. Many West Midlands figures, such as Joseph Priestley had welcomed the French Revolution in 1789 as an expression of political liberty. The execution of Louis XVI and the outbreak of war between Britain and France changed the political climate and made it difficult and dangerous to support radical ideas. In Birmingham the Priestley Riots of 1791 set back reform for several decades. The British Government supported the restoration of the French monarchy after the defeat of Napoleon. Birds painting symbolized the hope of conservatives that the established order in Europe was cemented in place, but radicalism and revolutionary ideas were not defeated and re-emerged in the 1820s. In the West Midlands demands for political liberty found expression in several campaigns, including Thomas Attwoods Birmingham Political Union.
Oil painting showing a bustling crowded scene welcoming the boat carrying the King of France. The King is seated on a chair on a red carpet. | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/uk/ | Publisher: | Wolverhampton Arts and Museums Service | Rights holder: | Wolverhampton Arts and Museums Service | Subjects: | Ships King Louis XVIII Politics Sailing ships Fine arts Men Calais French Oil painting Women Oil Paintings Highlights Royalty Georgian period Royal family France Boats Royal visits Paintings Kings Monarchs Narrative painting People Art collections | Temporal: | 1792 - 1819
Georgian (1714-1837) | Source: | Black Country History | Creator: | BIRD; Edward (1772 - 1819) | Identifier: | http://www.blackcountryhistory.org/colle... | Go to resource |
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