Titelblad voor muziekstuk 'Bataille de Belle Alliance' 1815 - 1844

Frédéric Théodore Faber created this title page for the music piece 'Bataille de Belle Alliance', likely in Belgium, sometime after the famous battle in 1815. The image uses established visual codes to create meaning: a winged figure trumpets victory, showering wreaths on the world. The title itself, referring to the 'Belle Alliance,' connects the piece to a specific historical event. It was at an inn of that name that Wellington and Blücher met to celebrate their victory over Napoleon. This cover commemorates a key moment in European history, reinforcing a sense of national pride and celebrating the restoration of the monarchy. The piece, ‘composed and dedicated to the allied armies’ suggests the composer was hoping to profit from the patriotic fervor that followed the battle. To fully understand the artwork's place within the culture of 19th-century Belgium, we might look at the history of music publishing in Brussels. What was the target market for sheet music? How were composers and artists connected to the political establishment? These are just some of the questions that help us understand the social life of images.