French Painting
A letter (May 14) decrying a prudish cover-up on a Delacroix painting on a U.S. postage stamp, failed to mention another fault: The famous painting, shown first in 1831, was meant to symbolize the unity of classes participating in the French revolution of 1830, not the “Great” Revolution of 1789-1799, whose bicentennial is now being commemorated. The 1830 upheaval was, in truth, a kind of aftershock and succeeded in ousting the last Bourbon from the French throne.
Not to worry: I understand that even the French bicentennial committee has moved Delacroix back a generation. Bureaucrats worry more about bare breasts than bare facts anyway!
DANIEL L. RADER
Professor Emeritus of History
San Diego State University
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