Monks Learning to Exercise.

Monks Learning to Exercise.

This image ridicules monks for contributing nothing to society, either economically or demographically, by depicting a group of them being taken from the monastery and drafted into the army, where they hope "to become good citizens" as was expected under religious restructuring. To bring the clergy under the control of the new government, on 12 July 1790, the National Assembly passed the measure that became known as the Civil Constitution of the Clergy. It targets not Catholicism but past clerical abuses. The measure sought to create a "revolutionary" clergy, which would serve the people rather than rule over them.

None Identified

Library of Congress

1790

Public Domain

http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/218/|<span>Collection de Vinck. <em>Un siècle d'histoire de France par l'estampe, 1770-1870</em>. Vol. 19 (pièces 3107-3418), Ancien Régime et Révolution</span>

JPEG

French

218

Etching

Les moines aprenant à faire l'exercise

avec de la patience nous en viendrons about et avec le temps nous marcherons comme les autres et la nation nous fera devenir bons citoyens.