Victor Hugo

This portraitback to top

Victor Hugo was asked to chair the conference, which was organised by the leaders of the Peace Society and Richard Cobden, because of his respected reputation in France as a successful novelist and idealistic member of the Legislative Assembly. Critical of Hugo's use of grandiose rhetoric in his emotive speeches, Daumier undermined his reported eloquence by highlighting his staged mannerisms. 'Victor Hugo, in a speech in three parts, demonstrates the emptiness of military glory, and proves by example that the laurel wreath can be favourably replaced by a crown of roses! Which further allows him to show a new 'forehead effect'.'

Events of 1849back to top

Current affairs

Benjamin Disraeli becomes Conservative leader in the House of Commons.
Bedford College for Women is founded, following on from the foundation of Queen's College for Women the previous year.
Henry Mayhew, the social researcher and reform advocate, begins publishing his extensive statistical survey into the living conditions of urban communities, London Labour and the London Poor in the Morning Chronicle.

Art and science

With the death of his father Johann Strauss the Elder, Johann Baptist Strauss, the Austrian violinist and composer combines his and his father's orchestra, becoming known as 'the Waltz King'. His famous waltzes include The Blue Danube (1867). Dante Gabriel Rossetti paints his sister, the poet Christina, in The Girlhood of Mary Virgin.

International

Rome is briefly proclaimed a republic after the papal states are overthrown by Italian republicans. Napoleon's dependency on French Catholics leads him however to help restore papal authority. The restoration of Austrian military rule in Italy further darkens hopes of a self-ruling Italian nationhood.
Communist riots are suppressed in Paris.

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