Philippe Claude (PA1094): 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

PA1094: Philippe Claude

TITLE:

Toussaint Louverture au Fort de Joux

Description of
Hero Represented:
[English] [French]

REF. #:

PA1094

measurements:

24" x 36"

media/support:

Oil on canvas

year:
2003

price:
$1,500.00

ORDER:

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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 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)

TOUSSAINT SURRENDERS

At the end March 1802, the entire coast of Saint Domingue, plus an extended region within the country, acclaimed Leclerc’s authority. Toussaint’s regular army no longer existed. The old governor was then reduced to a war of supporters, demoralizing for the French, but without immediate result for himself. He preferred to negotiate.

He was an outlaw (Leclerc ‘s decree of February 17, 1802). He was defeated.
Still proud, for he felt strong and powerful enough to burn, ravage and sell his life dearly - he was content to hint that it was still possible to negotiate with him.

Lecler told him that he didn't have anything to fear, and if he wanted to surrender, he would be free to retire on one his dwellings, of his choice, that finally the French would be happy to take advantage of his advice.

Toussaint didn't hesitate. Escorted by his guard of honor (400 guides), he went to Cap (May 6, 1802). It was a triumphal entry: all the artillery of the forts and the war vessels saluted him, and in the evening, there was general illumination. On the very day, he decide with Leclerc on the conditions of his surrender to France, and what would become of the last faithful generals such as Dessalines and Belair. The following day, after a big dinner of pomp where his silence, his sobriety - he only took a glass of water from an opened decanter and some cheese that he cut in the middle of a piece - were noticed and commented upon.

Toussaint inspected his guard of honor and. after moving farewells, he dismissed them.

Toussaint went on to settle on one of his Ennery estates; his guards, always devoted, settled in the vicinity like farmers.

(History of Haiti by J-C Dorsainville page 115 to 117, Henri Deschamps Publishing House)

DEPORTATION OF TOUSSAINT- HIS DEATH

a) The Reasons. On May 6, 1802, Leclerc and Toussaint had signed a truce rather than a real and lasting peace. To all the witnesses of this noteworthy event, it appeared indeed, that there was no sincerity and that the former governor was only waiting for an opportunity to reappear on the political scene of Saint Domingue.

Leclerc was anxious. While fever yellow was devastating the whites, the blacks formed bands and went around devastating the country areas. Toussaint was accused of causing this coincidence through his occult powers; he was even asked to enlist Scylla, one of the chiefs of bands to stop the plunders in Grande Rivière. Then, Leclerc who had intercepted two letters with ambiguous terms that Toussaint had written to La Fontaine, his former aide-of-camp, decided to have Toussaint deported.

b) The arrest. Arresting Toussaint was a difficult operation to carry out. Its failure would have terrible consequences. Upon the least alert, he could take off for the woods and trigger what Leclerc dreaded the most: a general insurection, for the former governor had not lost anything of his influence on the masses.

Leclerc trampled on the rigid prescriptions of military honor and set up an ambush using General Brunet.

Under the pretext of consulting his experience about some steps to take in the canton of Ennery, General Brunet summoned Toussaint on Habitation George (near Ennery). - The old Toussaint, distrustful by nature, was hardly flattered by the obvious deference shown him. He weighed the consequences of the acceptance or the refusal and, for his misfortune, accepted the appointment. He was arrested there by surprise (June 7, 1802), led to Gonaives and embarked on "The Creole". In Cap, he was transshipped to the vessel" The Hero" where he joined his family who was arrested on the same day as he was. As he set foot on "The Hero", Toussaint
exclaimed: "In overthrowing me, they have only cut down the trunk of the tree of the liberty of the blacks; its roots will grow back for they are deep and numerous". - Prophetic Words, which the events would fulfill without delay.

c) Toussaint in France. - In France, Toussaint was separated from his family and interned in Fort de Joux, on the summits of the Jura where it is humid and icy cold all year round. Not being able to leave his cell, deprived from all distractions, he didn't last long. On the morning of April 7, 1803, someone entered his cell and found him lifeless, seated on a chair, close to fire, his head leaning against the chimney."

Thus disappeared, prisoner on foreign land, the most extraordinary man
of our race, the one who called himself - and with reason - "The First of the Blacks."

(History of Haiti by J-C Dorsainville page 118 to 120, Henri Deschamps Publishing House)

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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)

SOUMISSION DE TOUSSAINT

A la fin de Mars 1802, toute la cote de Saint Domingue, plus une region etendue a l'interieur, reconnaissaient l'autorite de Leclerc. L'armee reguliere de Toussaint n'existait plus. Le vieux gouverneur en etait don reduit a une guerre de partisans, demoralisante pour les francais, mais sans resultat immediat pour lui meme. Il prefera negocier.

Il etait hors la loi (arrete de Leclerc du 17 Fevrier 1802). Il etait vaincu. Toujours fier-car il se sentait assez fort, assez puissant pour bruler, ravager, et vendre cherement sa vie - il se contenta de laisser entrevoir qu'il etait encore possible d'entrer en pourparlers avec lui.

Lecler lui repondit qu'il n'avait rien a craindre. que s'il voulait se soumettre, il serait libre de se retirer sur une de ses habitations, laissee a son choix, qu'enfin les Francais seraient heureux de profiter de ses conseils.

Toussaint n'hesita pas. Escorte de sa garde d'honneur (400 guides), il se rendit au Cap (6 Mai 1802). Son entree y fut triomphale: toute l'artillerie des forts et celle des vaisseaux de guerre le saluerent, et, le soir il y eut illumination genarale. Il arreta le jour meme, avec Leclerc, les conditions de sa soumission a la France, et la situation qui serait faite aux derniers generaux fideles comme Dessalines et Belair. Le lendemain, apres un grand dinner d'apparat ou son mutisme, sa sobriete - il ne prit qu'un verre d'eau d'une carafe entamee et un peu de fromage qu'il decoupa au milieu d'un morceau - furent remarques et commentes.

Toussaint passa en revue sa garde d'honneur et. apres des adieux emouvant, il la licencia.

Toussaint alla se fixer sur une de ses habitations d'Ennery; ses gardes, toujours devoues, s'etablir aux environs comme cultivateurs.

(Histoire d'Haiti par J-C Dorsainville page 115 A 117, edition Henri Deschamps)

DEPORTATION DE TOUSSAINT - SA MORT

a) Les Causes. - Le 6 Mai 1802, Leclerc et Toussaint avaient signe une treve plutot qu'une paix veritable et durable. A tous les temoins de cet evenement memorable, il avait parru en effet, que la sincerite manquait, et que l'ancien gouverneur n'attendait qu'une occasion pour reparaitre sur la scene politique de Saint Domingue.

Leclerc etait soucieux. Pendant que la fievre jaune ravagait les blancs, des bandes de noirs etaient formees devastant les campagnes. Cette coincidence fut attribuee a une action occulte de Toussaint; on le pria meme d'engager Scylla, l'un des chefs de bandes a cesser depredations a la Grande Riviere; ensuite, deux lettres aux termes ambigus que Toussaint ecrivit a Fontaine, son ancien aide-de-camp, ayant ete interceptee, Leclerc decida la deportation de Toussaint.

b) L'arrestation. - Arreter Toussaint etait une operation difficile a conduir et dont l'echec entrainerait des consequences d'une extreme gravite. A la moindre alerte, il pouvait se jeter dans les bois et declencher ce que Leclerc redoutait le plus: l'insurection generale, car l'ancien gouverneur n'avait rien perdu de son influence sur les masses.

Leclerc foula aux pieds les rigides prescriptions de l'honneur militaire et imagina un guet-apens pour lequel il employa le general Brunet.

Sous pretexte de consulter sa vieille experience sur certaines dispositions a prendre dans le canton d'Ennery, Brunet manda Toussaint sur l'habitation George (pres d'Ennery).- Le vieux Toussaint, defiant par nature, ne fut guere flatte de l'apparente deference qu'on lui temoignait; il hesita, peas les consequences ou de l'acceptation ou du refus et, pour son malheur, accepta le rendez-vous. Il y fut arrete par surprise (7 Juin 1802), conduit aux Gonaives et embarque sur "La Creole". Au Cap, il fut transborde sur le vaisseau " Le Heros" et y retrouva sa famille arretee le meme jour que lui. En Mettant le pied sur "Le Heros", Toussaint s'ecria: "En me renversant, on n'a abattu que le tronc de l'arbre de la liberte des noirs; il repoussera par les racines parce qu'elle sont profondes et nombreuses". - Paroles prophetiques, que les evenements allaient realiser sans delai.

c) Toussaint en France. - En France, Toussaint fut separe de sa famille et interne au Fort de Joux, sur les sommets de du Jura ou regnait toute l'annee un froid humide et glacial. Ne pouvant sortir de sa cellule, prive de toute distraction, il ne resista pas longtemps. Le matin du 7 Avril 1803, quand on entra "dans son cachot, on le trouva sans vie, assis sur une chaise, pres du feu, la tete apuyee contre la cheminee".

Ainsi disparut, captif sur une terre etrangere, l'homme le plus extaordinaire peut etre de notre race, celui qui s'appelait lui meme - et avec raison - "Le Premier des Noirs".

(Histoire d'Haiti par J-C Dorsainville page 118 a 120, edition Henri Deschamps)

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