MARIE-ANTOINETTE ATTAINS GRANDEUR

ONE OF HISTORY'S BEST-KNOWN EXECUTIONS...

The boat representing Paris sailed past the evocation of a bloody Conciergerie and came upon the guillotining of the queen.  

STANDS OUT BY THE VICTIM'S DIGNITY 

The king went to the scaffold by coach... 

L'Exécution du roi Louis XVI, YouTube / zoom

But the queen was taken in an open cart for hauling garbage, as were prostitutes, criminals and opponents. At least they were exhibited and jeered together... 

     Transport de prostituées by Etienne Jeurat, 1757 / zoom

 Poster of an exhibit at the National Archives

     La Dernière Charrette ("The Last Cartload"), anonymous / sold on eBay

While she was alone.

Marie-Antoinette conduite à l'échafaud by Jean-Louis David, sketch from a window / zoom

Marie-Antoinette ignored the crowd and sat in the cart with as much dignity as on a throne. On the scaffold she stumbled and stepped on the executioner's foot. 

Her last words:

 "I beg your pardon, sir,

I did not do it on purpose."

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Next,

Louis XVII, a story that has no end