Image of the King’s Departure
Annotation
This engraving depicts the King, his wife, and his children meeting at half–past midnight on 21 June 1791, about to board a carriage in which they will flee secretly from Paris toward the border. The King and Queen were poorly disguised as servants to a German noblewoman. Since most French people outside of Paris had never seen the King or Queen in person, they expected to avoid recognition if only they could get clear of the capital and the surrounding towns.
Translation
Title (French)
Depart de Louis XVI le 21 juin 1791, à minuit et demie
Caption
le roi, sa femme sa fille M.de Elisabeth, M. de de Tourzelle, et un garde du corps portant le Dâuphin, vont rejoindre le fiacre, qui les attend au guichet de Marigny
Credits
Bibliothèque nationale de France, département Estampes et photographie, RESERVE QB-370 (23)-FT 4.