July 14 is the Anniversary of The Storming of the Bastille, medieval fortress and prison that represented royal authority in Paris, initiating the French Revolution in 1789. Its fall and the release of 7 political prisoners was the flashpoint of the French Revolution.
In France it is known as Fête de la Fédération. It is usually called Bastille Day in English, and in historic reference, it’s also celebrated as mortgage burning day in the United States. French communities around the world celebrate the day with food, dancing, art and cinematic events.
“The Storming of the Bastille” is a watercolor executed by Jean-Pierre Louis Laurent Houël in 1789. It is scanned from the original which resides in the National Library of France and is in the public domain. Visible in the center is the arrest of Bernard-René Jourdan de Launay, commander of the Bastille and its garrison.
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