GUINARD (Joseph Augustin, 1799-1874, French Politician and Political Prisoner)

Autograph Letter Signed, in French with translation, to 'My dear Charles', thanking him for the interest he has taken in the "talented young artist ... M. Guilbert", and recommending the bearer, "another young landscape artist ... Have some of his pictures shown and help him with your kind influence, which has already brought into the lime light so many young people of talent whom the old favouritism would have kept stifled in obscurity. M. Legentil is ... the close friend of comrades dear to you", thanking him again, and asking him "when you have the chance, send my dearest wishes to London", ('my dearest wishes' written in English), 2 sides 8vo., Citadel of Doullens (27 m. N of Amiens), 22nd March

An early member of the 'Charbonnerie', Guinard was always of the Left. He was at the barricades in 1830, implicated in the insurrection of 1834, imprisoned but escaped in 1835 to London. He was granted an amnesty in 1839, and returned in 1848 to join the barricades once more. He got possession of the Minimes barracks, led the 8th legion of the National Guard to the Hotel de Ville, was named assistant Mayor of Paris, and sat in the Constituent Assembly. In the June insurrection, when he was Colonel of the National Guard Artillery, he was seriously wounded, and in June 1849 his share in the Conservatoire affair led to his imprisonment in Doullens. He was not released till 1854.
An old pencil note in a French hand apparently identifies 'Charles' as 'ch: Blanc'.

Item Date:  1850

Stock No:  51214      £175

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