Les dernières cartouches

Overview

The scene depicts the well-known episode depicted in a famous painting. Two groups of soldiers follow each other into the room and open fire. A grenade explodes. One of the men falls, wounded. The famous painting in question is by Alphonse de Neuville (1873), entitled Les Dernières Cartouches (The Last Cartridges), depicting one of the most glorious episodes of the day at Bazeilles (September 1, 1870), the defense of the Bourgerie house by a group of French soldiers and officers, led by Commander Lambert and Captain Aubert. There is another unlisted version of this subject in which an intrusive spectator can be seen at the top of the painting.