3917 - F. Speth, "Gambetta’s Funeral Procession in Paris, 6 January 1883"

F. Speth, "Gambetta’s Funeral Procession in Paris, 6 January 1883" A bird’s-eye view of a funeral procession featuring a large military contingent and a crowd of people; in the foreground, wreaths are being presented, whilst behind them is a carriage bearing a coffin. The scene depicts the Place de la Concorde, looking south across the Seine towards the Assemblée Nationale, with the Panthéon visible in the background; the work refers to the state funeral of the founder of the Republic, Léon Gambetta, on 6 January 1883, which was one of the largest state funerals of the time; an unusually large-scale depiction, gouache on paper, which is mounted on canvas, edged in black, inscribed on the lower edge ‘Gambetta’s funeral procession from Paris on 6 January 1883’ and with labels identifying architectural features such as the ‘Statue of Strasbourg’ and the obelisk; inscribed ‘F. Speth. Neustadt in Holstein’; signs of wear; framed; inner dimensions: 120 x 161 cm.