Sortie of the Roman garrison..., from Souvenirs d’Italie: Expédition de Rome 1854

Auguste Raffet made this lithograph, titled ‘Sortie of the Roman garrison...’, to commemorate the French army's siege of Rome in 1849. It depicts a scene of intense military conflict, but its real subject lies in the political complexities of mid-19th century Europe. The print creates meaning through dramatic visual codes of war. It also invites us to consider the historical associations of the event. In 1849, French troops intervened in Rome to restore Pope Pius IX to power, crushing the nascent Roman Republic. Raffet's image, therefore, reflects the conservative political climate of France under the Second Republic, where anxieties about revolutionary movements were high. To truly understand this artwork, we need to delve into the political history of the time and question the motives behind France's intervention in Italy. Historical archives from the period, including diplomatic correspondence and military records, would help us better understand the social and institutional context. Ultimately, this image serves as a reminder that art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.