"The Holy Fire of Patriotism", 1791

Part messenger of the heavens, part Liberté dressed in the antique style, an allegorical female figure stands on a pedestal for the still on-going writing of the constitution and presents to the royal crown the motto of the constitutional monarchy ("The nation – the law – the king"). Gathered around her are the leading editors of the revolutionary press: front left stands Brissot with the Patriote français, then Gorsas, his Courrier and Prudhomme with the Révolutions de Paris, etc. From underground, to which he was occasionally forced to flee, Marat holds up his newspaper. Some of the journalists are crowned with laurels and, in the manner of saints, wear holy flames around their heads as a sign of their enlightenment.

"Das heilige Feuer des Patriotismus beseelt sie alle", etching, France, 1791, unknown artist; source: Prometheus – Das verteilte Bildarchiv für Forschung und Lehre, Lexikon der Revolutions-Ikonographie, Justus Liebig Universität Gießen, Historisches Institut, https://prometheus-bildarchiv.de/de/ (fee for access).