Lot 70: Alexandre-Evariste Fragonard (Grasse 1780-1850 Paris)

Alexandre-Evariste Fragonard (Grasse 1780-1850 Paris)
The Coup of XVIII Brumaire: Bonaparte before the Council of Five Hundred
pencil, brown wash
13½ x 16 7/8 in. (343 x 428 mm.)

The Council of Five Hundred was the lower house of the French legislature during the Directoire period. In addition to operating as a legislative organization, the Council of Five Hundred proposed the list from which the five Directors, who jointly held executive power were chosen. The Coup of XVIII Brumaire (9 November 1799) was the coup d'etat by which General Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the French Directory, replacing it with the French Consulate.