by Anne Doridou-Heim
Scorned by all his political opponents during his reign, a favorite target for the press and long neglected by history, Louis-Philippe left a hazy and not very pleasant image in people’s minds. The plate by journalist Charles Philipon published in La Caricature in November 1831 imprinted his pear-shaped head on the collective memory. Yet his reign began well: he seemed open to liberal ideas, and sincerely sought to establish a constitutional democracy based on the English model. Although he was not a disastrous king (as many delighted in describing him), his growing authoritarianism finally led to an insurrection in February 1848. Ironically, a rebellion had also taken him to power in 1830. Two exhibitions staged in the fall and winter of 2018-2019, one at Versailles , the other at Fontainebleau, turned the spotlight once more on this little-known sovereign and provided a clearer picture of his commitment to the arts.
Louis-Philippe was keen to reconcile the French with their past, and desperately sought a place in this long history. To this end, he decided to transform the Palace of Versailles—symbol par excellence of the monarchy—into a national monument open to everyone, dedicated to all the glories of France. The History Galleries were duly inaugurated on June 10, 1837.
