Expulsion of the Jesuits 1761

Gabriel de Saint-Aubin made this print, "Expulsion of the Jesuits" in 1761. It commemorates the expulsion of the Jesuit order from France, an event of enormous social and political significance. Saint-Aubin presents the expulsion through allegory. On the left, we see the burning of Jesuit texts, symbolizing the rejection of their teachings. On the right, the Jesuits are driven from their schools. The inscriptions, "Fomenters of Errors Avoided," and "Books Consumed," underscore the perceived threat they posed to French society. The expulsion was the culmination of anti-Jesuit sentiment within France, fueled by their perceived ultramontanism and involvement in political affairs. The French monarchy, seeking to consolidate power, saw the Jesuits as a rival authority. Saint-Aubin’s print reflects this view. To understand this artwork fully, we need to delve into the archives, exploring the pamphlets, legal documents, and public debates that shaped the perception of the Jesuits in 18th-century France. This print serves as a reminder that art is never created in a vacuum, it’s always shaped by social and institutional forces.