Question

Name the allegory which was invented by artists in the nineteenth century to represent the notion of France? Explain any two features of it

Answer 1

1) Artists in 18^th and 19^th centuries, found a way of personifying nation. They portrayed nations as female figures.

2) The female form that was chosen to personify the nation did not stand for any particular woman which henceforth made female figure, an allegory of nation.

3) During French Revolution, artists used the female allegory to portray ideas such as Liberty, Justice and Republic. They were represented by special objects or symbols, such as, for Liberty, the attributes used to represent are red cap, broken chain

4) Female allegory invented by French artists in the 19^th century was Marianne. This was popular Christian name which underlined the idea of a people’s nation.

5) Her characteristics include red cap, tricolour and the cockade. Statues of Marianne were erected in public squares to remind the public of the national symbol of unity and to persuade them to identify with it. Images of Marianne were marked on coins and stamps