During the mid-nineteenth century the writing of history reflected a new sensibility that was framed by the idea, experience, and result of revolution in France. Beginning with the assassination of the heir to the throne in 1820, the decade leading to the Revolution of 1830 was a time of significant change that allowed an entire generation to identify with the earlier revolution of 1789. The concept of the professional historian was just beginning to take root in France, and in the hands of such men who were curious about the meaning of historical events, the writing of history began to reflect a society desperate for change. The historical figures found in four grand operas that premiered between 1830 and 1850 are examined as evidence of this historical sensibility. By emphasizing the importance of the past on the artistic pursuits of composers, painters, writers, and the relatively new profession of history in the first half of the nineteenth century, it is possible to contextualize grand opera within the larger cultural movements in France and thus understand the genre’s popularity during the July Monarchy and for its subsequent decline after its demise.

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