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The retreat of the French army in 1812 through Town Hall Square in Vilnius

Authors: Louis Bichebois (1801–1850)
Victor Adam (1801–1866)
Created:1846
Material:paper
Technique:coloured lithograph
Dimensions:45.50 × 58 cm
Signature:

inscription: Album de Wilna. / No. 2. / Dessiné par F. Damel. / Lith. par V. Adam et Bichebois. / PLAC PRZY RATUSZU ODWRÓT WOJSK FRANCUSKICH ROKU 1812 W WILNIE / PLACE DE L’ HÔTEL DE VILLE LORS DE LA RETRAITE DES FRANCAIS EN 1812 / Dédiée a Son Excellence Monsieur le Comte Michel Borch par l‘Editeur J. K. Wilczynski. / Imp. par Lemercier a Paris.

Coloured lithograph after Jan Damel, Jan Kazimierz Wilczyński, ‘Album of Vilnius’, series I, fascicle I, No. 2.

The publication of Wilczyński's book lasted from 1845 to 1858. The process was expensive, and it was published at a loss. Wilczyński raised funds by subscription, and from patrons, to whom he dedicated individual pages. It was issued as a series, each of which contained fascicles. Views of Vilnius, its architecture and environs prevail in series I (four fascicles) and series II (seven fascicles). Series III is devoted to the history of the country. Series IV is devoted to pictures of saints in the churches of Vilnius and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Series V contains small-format religious pictures with splendid open-work borders. Series VI is a collection of satirical pictures by Arthur Bartels. One of the very fi rst views in the book is a picture by Jan Damel (17801840) portraying the notable and most tragic episode in the history of the city in the early 19th century, the retreat of Napoleon’s battered army through Vilnius in the winter of 1812. French soldiers, suff ering from the cold and clad in rags, are shown running across Town Hall Square, with the dead bodies of soldiers and horses lying in the snow. It was the end of Napoleon’s campaign, on which Lithuania’s residents had pinned their hopes of regaining independence.

Text author Laima Laučkaitė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album VILNIUS. TOPOPHILIA II (2015). Compiler and author Laima Laučkaitė, RES PUBLICA (2018). Compiler and author Rūta Janonienė
Expositions: ‘Vilnius Forever. A Dialogue of Artworks and Guides to the City’, 25 May 202230 April 2023 Lithuanian Art Centre TARTLE (Užupio St. 40, Vilnius). Curator Laima Laučkaitė.