Print, Etching on Paper, Colored, ENTRÉE TROMPHALE DES MONUMENTS DES SÇIENCES ET ARTS EN FRANCE; FÊTE À CE SUJET. LES 9 ET 10 THERMIDOR, AN 6 EINE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE.

Colored etching depicting the parade of captured exotic animals, plants, and art on July 27, 1798 during the Festival of Arts and Sciences to celebrate Napoleon's triumph in Italy. The parade went through the streets of Paris to the Champs de Mars. The balloon in the image is probably flown by Andre-Jacques Garnerin, although that has not been confirmed. The four horses shown in a wagon are the Triumphal Quadriga, originally displayed in the Hippodrome of Constantinople. Captured by the Venetians during the Fourth Crusade (1204) they were displayed in front of St. Mark's Cathedral. Captured by Napoleon in 1797, they were included in the Festival parade as noted. They were later mounted on top of the Arc de Triumphe. Following Napoleon's defeat in 1815, they were returned to Venice. "Girar det inv. & del. Berthault Sculpt."