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Description

A Landmark Event in Canadian Political Relations in the Mid-19th Century

This rare lithographic image depicts the moment when a violent mob attacked and burned the Parliament House in Montreal, Canada. The lithograph was created by an unknown artist, and it provides a detailed and vivid depiction of the events of that day.

The lithograph shows a chaotic scene, with a large crowd of people gathered in front of the Parliament House, which is engulfed in flames. The people in the crowd are armed with a variety of weapons, including clubs, knives, and swords, and they are shown attacking the building and setting it on fire. In the background of the image, smoke and flames can be seen rising from the burning building.

The historical dispute that led to the destruction of the Parliament House in Montreal in 1849 was part of a broader conflict between the British government and the French-speaking population of the city. The conflict had its roots in the division of the Province of Canada into the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada in 1791, which created a political and cultural divide between the English-speaking population of Upper Canada and the French-speaking population of Lower Canada.

In the decades leading up to 1849, the French-speaking population of Lower Canada began to agitate for greater autonomy and political representation. They formed a political movement known as the Parti Patriote, which sought to reform the government of Lower Canada and to give the French-speaking population more power and influence. The British government, however, was resistant to these demands, and the conflict between the two sides continued to escalate.

The attack on the Parliament House in Montreal in 1849 was a key moment in the conflict between the British government and the French-speaking population of the city. The Parliament House was the center of British political power in Lower Canada, and the attack on the building was seen as a direct challenge to British authority. The event led to further political instability in the region, and it ultimately contributed to the decision to unite the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada into the Province of Canada in 1841.

George Matthews was the owner of the Montreal firm Matthews Lithography, which flourished in the middle of the 19th Century.

Rarity

The view is very rare on the market.

We were unable to locate any example for sale at auction or in dealer catalogs.