126 - Jean-Urbain GUERIN (Strasbourg 1761 - Obernai 1836)

Jean-Urbain GUERIN (Strasbourg 1761 - Obernai 1836) Left profile portrait of Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, Comte de Mirabeau (Le Bignon Mirabeau 1749-Paris 1791) Black pencil, estompe 15 x 12 cm oval Lined on an old mount, editor's stamp (L.172) lower center Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau, was an influential figure in the French Revolution. From 1789, he distinguished himself as a talented orator and defender of the rights of the Third Estate. Within the Estates General, he played a key role in the formation of the National Assembly, calling for the reunification of the three orders and recognition of the power of the people. Mirabeau became the spokesman for reformist ideas and campaigned for a constitutional monarchy, advocating collaboration between the king and the Assembly. His impassioned speech at the Jeu de Paume oath, in which he called for determination in the face of oppression, galvanized the revolutionaries. However, his moderate stance put him at odds with the more radical factions. Despite his support for reforms, he maintained contacts with the court, drawing criticism. In 1791, he was re-elected as a deputy and continued to defend his ideas within the Assembly. His declining health did not prevent him from remaining a major player until his death in 1791.