Philippe Claude (PA1093): Artist of the Month Exhibition: 1804: May 15 - June 15, 2004: Carrie Art Collection: Haitian Art

Exhibition: Artist of the Month
HAITI

1804 is the year of Independence in Haiti.
We are the first Black Independent Republic.

A R T I S T
PHILIPPE CLAUDE

PA1093: Philippe Claude

TITLE:

Toussaint Louverture et la Constitution de 1801

Description of
Hero Represented:
[English] [French]

REF. #:

PA1093

measurements:

24" x 36"

media/support:

Oil on canvas

year:
2003

price:
SOLD

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1804 is the year of Independence in Haiti.
We are the first Black Independent Republic.

Hero represented in this painting:
TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE
[click here for French Version]

According to tradition, Toussaint was born in Haut du Cap in 1743 and was the grandchild of Gaou-Guinou’s, the king of the Aradases. This king's grandson lived in slavery for more than forty years.

As a child, he was undersized and scornfully nicknamed Fatras-Baton, which literally means Junk-Stick. Stimulated by the mockery, he fortified his body and toughened himself to fatigue so well by violent physical exercises such as horseman riding and swimming that, at a young age, he was called "The Centaur of the Savanna” because he was such a good rider.

His godfather, Pierre Baptiste, an old Negro in Haut-du-Cap, taught him to read and write. He developed a passion for reading. Before 1789, he had read several times “The Philosophical History of India” by Abbot Raynal, and the author’s prediction of a Spartacus, avenging of the black race, struck his imagination strongly.

He took advantage of everything in order to learn. From his father, he learned the art of using natural / magic remedies; through caring the horses on the habitation, he became a veterinarian.

In 1789, he was the coachman of Bayon Libertat, the manager of the Breda estate, as well as his adviser. He was well thought of by everyone because of his punctuality and his accuracy. No one could then foresee that this quiet, skinny, unattractive, prematurely aged man would become the terrifying political man who would one day dominate the events of Saint Domingue.

In 1791, he deployed frantic activities to prepare the big slave revolt, but he took no part in the general devastation. He even saved his masters’ lives. It was only in November 1791 that he joined Biassou’s band , with the rather singular title of "Army Physician ."

(History of Haiti by J-C Dorsainville page 81 to 83, Henri Deschamps Publishing House)

THE 1801 CONSTITUTION

Upon his return from Santo Domingo, Toussaint, persuaded as the colonists that Saint Domingue could not be entirely governed by French laws, ordered
elections in order to form a Constituent Assembly.

There were five departments represented by two deputies then:

Viard and Raymond for the North
Borgella and Lacour, for the west,
Collet and Nogeree, for the South,
Mancebe and Morillas, for the Engano,
Roxas and Munoz, for Samana,

In all seven whites, three mulattos, and no black.

From their first meeting (March 22, 1801), those elected by the people constituted themselves in Central Assembly, with Borgella, a planter from Cul-de-Sac, as president.

The cunning Toussaint who knows the devotion of all the Constituent, and particularly Borgella for him, affected to reside in Cap during their sessions.

Voted on May 9, the 1801 Constitution was solemnly promulgated two months later in Cap (July 8). Colonel Vincent, a Frenchman who did not mince his words with Toussaint told him in vain that this constitution would never be approved by the Consular Government. After all, it established the autonomy of Saint Domingue since it gave Toussaint, in the name of the people of the island, the title and the functions of "Governor General for life" with the right to name his successor.

Before dissolving itself, the Central assembly elaborated (July, August 1801) a set of laws relative to the army, the finances, justice, the estates, the clergy, ect..., few but efficient laws, because, once they were printed, they were observed by all. Tousaint’s will was sovereign , he was an enlightened despot.

(Histoire d'Haiti par J-C Dorsainville page 104-105, edition Henri Deschamps)

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Home > Artist of the Month Archive > 1804

1804 is the year of Independence in Haiti.
We are the first Black Independent Republic.

Hero represented in this painting:
TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE
[click here for English Version]

Toussaint, ne en 1743 au Haut du Cap etait d'apres la tradition petit-fis de Gaou-Guinou, roi des Aradas. Ce petit-fils de roi vecut plus de quarante ans dans l'esclavage.

Enfant il etit chetif, et par derision, on le surnommait Fatras-Baton. Stimule par la moquerie, il fortifia si bien son corps et l'endurcit tellemment a la fatigue par des excercices violents comme l'equitation et la natation que, jeune encore, son habilete de cavalier le fit appeler "Le Centaure de La Savane".

Grace a son parrain, Pierre Baptiste, un vieux negre du Haut du cap, il apprit a lire et a ecrire. Il se pasionna meme pour la lecture. Avant 1789, il lut plusieurs fois, L'Histoire Philosophique des Indes de L'abbe Raynal, et la prediction faite par l'auteur, d'un Spartacus, vengeur de la race noire, frappa vivement son imagination.

Il profita de tout pour s'instruire. De son pere, il apprit l'art d'utiliser les simples; en soignant les cheveaux de l'habitation, il devint veterinaire.

En 1789, il etait le cocher de Bayon Libertat, gerant des proprietes Breda, et son homme de confiance. Sa ponctualite, son exactitude l'avait fait estimer de tous. Personne ne pouvait deviner alors en cet homme silencieux, maigre, villain, vielli prematurement, le terrible politique qui devait dominer un jour les evenements de Saint Domingue.

En 1791, il deploya une activite febrile pour preparer la grande revolte des esclaves, mais il ne prit aucune part a la devastation generale, et meme il sauva ses maitres. En Novembre 1791 seulement il entra dans la bande de Biassou, avec le titre un peu singulier de "Medecin de l'Arme".

(Histoire d'Haiti par J-C Dorsainville page 81 a 83, edition Henri Deschamps)

CONSTITUTION DE 1801

A son retour de Santo Domingo, Toussaint, persuade, comme les colons, que Saint Domingue ne pouvait etre entierement regie par les lois francaises, ordonna des elections en vue de former une Assemblee Constituante.

Il y avait alors cinq departements qui furent represnetes chacun par 2 deputes:

Viard et Raymond pour le Nords
Borgella ert Lacour, pour l'Ouest
Collet et Nogeree, pour le Sud
Mancebe et Morillas, pour l'Engano
Roxas et munoz, pour la Samana

En tout sept blancs, trois mulatres; pas un noir.

Des leur premiere reunion (22 mars 1801), les elus du peuple se constituent en Assemblee Centrale, avec Borgella, planteur du Cul-de-Sac, pour president.

Le madre Toussaint, qui connait le devouement a sa personne de chacun des Constituants, de Borgella surtout, affecte, pendant leurs traveaux, de resider au Cap.

La Constitution de 1801, votee le 9 Mai, fut solennellement promulguee au Cap deux mois plus tard (8juillet). Le colonel Vincent, un Francais qui a son franc parler avec Toussaint, lui representa vainement que jamais cette constitution n'aurait l'approbation du Gouvernement Consulaire. Elle fondait, en definitive, l'autonomie de Saint Domingue puisqu'elle accordait a Toussaint, au nom du peuple de l'ile, le titre et les fonctions de "Gouverneur General a vie" avec le droit de designer son successeur.

Avant de se dissoudre, L'Assemblee Centrale elabora (juillet, aout 1801) une serie de lois relatives a l'armee, aux finances, a la justice, aux domaines, au clerge, ect..., lois peu nombreuses, mais efficaces, car, apres avoir ete imprimees, elles furent observees de tous, tant la volonte de Toussaint, despote eclaire, se montra souveraine.

(Histoire d'Haiti par J-C Dorsainville page 104-105, edition Henri Desch)

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