French democrats surprizing the royal runaways
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are seated on chairs at Varennes while an armed and ferocious mob invades the room through an open door (left); the approach of an angry crowd is suggested by a sea of heads, above which weapons are raised. The King sits full face, the Queen beside him in profile to the left and on the extreme right. One ruffian presents a blunderbuss at the Queen, another, yelling, threatens the King with a pistol and sabre. A soldier (left) advances with his musket cocked towards the little Dauphin, who has fallen on his back at the King's feet, having apparently been pushed over by the soldier's bayonet. A man wearing only a bonnet rouge and a shirt advances with a dagger in each hand; behind him is a man with a raised hammer in one hand, a broom in the other.