Chapitre I. L’impossible conciliation (Nivôse-Thermidor an II)

Bara and Viala, or Virtue Rewarded: The Memorialization of Two Child Martyrs of the French Revolution

“…Barère thus alluded to the Rousseauvian vision of childhood in describing Bara's virtue as 'complete …, as it came from the hands of Nature', evoking the opening premise of Rousseau's Émile, that 'Everything is good as it leaves the hands of the Author of things; everything degenerates in the hands of man.' 39 David echoed this notion of natural virtue, positing not only that 'at that age … everything is virtue', but that this was a 10 virtue the Republic's enemies could never corrupt-and one which he then ascribed to all…”

“…To children, he demonstrated the domestic role expected of them, combined with patriotism. 46 To adults, he and Viala were a call to arms and a source of inspiration. Thus, in his speech composed for the pantheonization ceremony, David appealed to each social category to emulate the boys' patriotism in distinct ways, be they fathers, mothers, the elderly, or young women.…”

“…49 Indeed, Robespierre and Barère implicitly challenged Plato's classical model of virtue, by describing Bara's virtue as complete ('toute entière') and claiming he embodied 'all virtues'. 50 The platonic concept of virtue as an aggregate of justice, wisdom, temperance and strength (or courage) was thus reframed: virtue was 'heroism, … courage, … filial love [and] 12 patriotism.' 51 In combining heroism with natural virtue, Bara thus represented a new vision of virtue and an alternative kind of hero, without classical precedent.…”