Primary Source

Liberty

Annotation

Even before the French Revolution, the French had used a woman in a toga to symbolize liberty. By July 1789 this symbol had become quite common and would only grow more familiar over the revolutionary decade. Generally the female Liberty was a poised counterpart to the frantic actions of the Revolution. She represented calm like a saint. Belonging to no group and no particular place, she stood for a universal principle based on reason.

Credits

Creator
Madame de Monchy (engraver)
Louis-Simon Boizot (designer)

Source
Bibliothèque Nationale de France

Date
1793-1794

How to Cite This Source

"Liberty," in World History Commons, https://worldhistorycommons.org/liberty-0 [accessed March 27, 2024]