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Description: | L Jonas 9/25
L Jonas
image: three French 'poilu' charge forward enthusiastically, a headless and winged angelic Marianne figure immediately
behind them. In the background on the horizon the twin spires of Rheims cathedral are visible.
The First World War saw numerous incidents of supposed appearances by angelic figures, usually to encourage defending
Entente troops against superior numbers. The most famous of these is the appearance of the 'Angel of Mons', a mythical incident that is
supposed to have assisted British forces in securing a tactical defensive victory against German troops on 23 August 1914. Similar
instances were suggested at Neuve Chapelle and Loos, as well as occasions involving French troops. Such imagery was commonly used in French
First World War popular art and propaganda.
Rheims cathedral was also regularly used, combining themes of religion, history, heroism and patriotic national identity. Rheims cathedral
was where many French kings were crowned, the facade a masterpiece of medieval architecture. It was badly damaged during the First World
War, an outrage that was exploited in French propaganda. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Subjects: | French Army Military Personnel Religion Architecture First World War propaganda | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Jonas, Lucien | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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