Portret van Jean Sylvain Bailly 1801 - 1847

Pierre François Bertonnier created this print of Jean Sylvain Bailly in the early 19th century, a period marked by the aftermath of the French Revolution, during which Bailly played a key role. Bertonnier's portrait captures Bailly in profile, a figure of the Enlightenment, adorned in the attire of his time, a powdered wig and formal coat. Bailly was an astronomer, mathematician, and intellectual who became the first mayor of Paris during the Revolution. However, his association with the monarchy led to his execution during the Reign of Terror, a stark reminder of the Revolution's complex and often brutal trajectory. Bailly, embodying the contradictions of his era, sought to usher in an age of reason, yet fell victim to the passions unleashed by the Revolution. The portrait, made after his death, serves as a poignant reflection on the ephemerality of political power. Consider the tragic layers of history embedded in the image.