ABSTRACT
If we were to judge by the number of times paintings of the events of 1830 have appeared, we would be justified in thinking them amongst the best-known and appreciated of revolutions. For not merely has the famous picture of ‘Liberty Leading the People’ by Delacroix been used repeatedly to illustrate historical works, but it has now graduated to the august heights of decorating France’s hundred-franc note. Yet neither this visual familiarity nor the fact that the revolutions inspired at least two famous pieces of music – by Berlioz and Chopin – is a true guide to the general standing of 1830 in the historical hall of fame. If we peruse some of the books which make use of the image of 1830, it soon becomes apparent that the position of the revolutions of that year is really a very lowly one. In fact the events of 1830 have largely been ignored by historians, so that such accounts as are available are often extremely flawed, and usually leave an impression of slightness and insignificance. So neglected and misconceived has been their historical image that the revolutions of 1830 are very much the forgotten men of the fraternity of European revolutions.
