The last words of Marie Antoinette (Dernières Paroles de Marie Antoinette)

Art Historical Context

This poignant hand-colored etching, titledThe Last Words of Marie Antoinette (Dern Paroles de Marie Ant)*, captures a dramatic moment from the French Revolution. Created by J. Pelicier between1794 and 1815, it depicts the executed queen's final utterance on October 16, 1793, as she mounted the scaffold—reportedly an apology to her executioner for stepping on foot: "Pardon, monsieur, je ne l’ai pas fait exprès." Produced in the turbulent years following her death, the print reflects the era's fascination with royal tragedy, blending revolutionary fervor with emerging sympathy for the fallen monarch. As a hand-colored etching, the work exemplifies a popular 18th- and early 19th-century technique. Etching allowed for detailed, reproducible imagery on a modest scale (plate: 12 11/16 × 11 5/16 in.), while manual coloring added vivid emotional intensity, making it accessible to a wide audience beyond elite circles. Prints like this circulated as affordable souvenirs, fueling public memory and debate over Marie Antoinette's legacy as a symbol of excess and victimhood. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department from the Glenn Tilley Morse Collection, this piece highlights women's roles in history—from queen to icon—and the power of visual storytelling in shaping cultural narratives. A stark reminder of revolution's human cost, it invites reflection on fame, fate, and forgiveness.