Portret van Pierre Daumesnil 1825 - 1842

Nicolas Maurin made this lithograph portrait of Pierre Daumesnil in France at some point before his death in 1850. Daumesnil was a celebrated general during the Napoleonic Wars and is known for his heroic defense of Vincennes in 1814, for which he was made a peer of France. Military leaders held a special place in French society after the revolution, and images like this helped to shape the cult of celebrity around figures such as Daumesnil. The glorification of military figures was a conscious project under Napoleon Bonaparte, but the trend continued after his downfall as the restored Bourbon monarchy sought to legitimize itself through association with military heroes. This image also reproduces Daumesnil’s personal motto “I ask no one, neither will I surrender nor will I sell myself.” The iconography of military heroism was carefully constructed and maintained through portraiture like this, which circulated widely in print form. Scholars interested in understanding the social context of this image can consult historical records, military archives, and collections of printed ephemera.