Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix

The 'Trois Glorieuses' refers to the three days of revolt — 27, 28 and 29 July 1830 — the second French Revolution after that of 1789. Parisians rose up against King Charles X, accused of trampling the freedoms enshrined in 1789. The state of war forced him to flee the capital and abandon his throne. He was succeeded by Louis-Philippe I, who established the July Monarchy. Delacroix's canvas captures one of the barricade scenes from those decisive days. 

The composition takes the shape of a pyramid. Delacroix shows a pile of fallen bodies, surmounted by the blue, white and red flag held aloft by an allegorical figure of Liberty. The Phrygian cap she wears recalls the headgear once worn by freed slaves of the Roman Empire, before becoming a symbol of liberation in southern France. It now stands as one of the great emblems of the French Republic, alongside Marianne herself, who embodies the values of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.

The bare-breasted woman at the heart of the canvas has often inspired the depictions of Marianne found in city halls and government buildings across France. She has become an icon of freedom and democracy, far beyond the borders of the country. 

• Where to find it: Denon wing, 1st floor, Louvre.
• Dimensions: approximately 2.60 m by 3.25 m.
• Extime Travel tip: pair the visit with the Raft of the Medusa, displayed nearby, for a focused tour of 19th-century French Romanticism.