Joseph Claude Pomel
Champ d'Asile (The Field of Asylum)

Public Domain

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Artist Joseph Claude PomelFrench, 1781–1839

Artistafter Charles Abraham ChasselatFrench, 1782–1843

CultureFrench

Titles

Champ d'Asile (The Field of Asylum)

Datec. 1818

Printed inFrance

MediumEngraving and aquatint with watercolor hand coloring

DimensionsImage: 7 3/8 × 10 5/8 in. (18.7 × 27 cm)
Sheet: 10 1/8 × 11 1/4 in. (25.7 × 28.6 cm)

Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, gift of William J. Hill

Object numberB.2007.14

Not on view

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Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

PRINTS

DescriptionThis engraving presents a greatly romanticized image of a short-lived French Bonapartist refugee venture near present-day Liberty, Texas, in 1818. With the likely goal of joining revolutionary forces in Mexico to place a Bonaparte on the throne, the French filibuster incursion prompted Spanish forces to march from San Antonio to expel them. The incident also helped bring about the Adams-Onís Treaty (1821) that did away with the so-called Neutral Ground between United States and Spanish territory that was left in dispute after the Louisiana Purchase and designated the Sabine River as the western border with Texas.
Provenance Research Ongoing Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below plate, left: Chasselat Del.
Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below plate, center: CHAMP D'ASILE. / Puisse le champ d'Asile, cette creation d’une origine pure et sans tache ; cette retraite don’t l’institution le but et le nom rappellent les asilies / anciens; cette celenie du Texas fender par des heros matheureux , s’accreitre et S’embellie par la prespérité et ne plus se recuter par la proscription! / puisse la plus heroïque dej resignations ne pas étre épreuvée par de noureaux reveis, par de nouvelles tempêtes! tel est le vɶu de toutes les âmes nobles / et généreuses de tous les pays ; et ce vɶu, u’eu doutens pas, sera exauce. (Extrait du tableau topographique du Texas et du Tombechbé.)
Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below plate, right: Pomel Sculp.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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