Tomb of the Abbé de Sieyès

What it is

This engraved print, credited to Jules Férat and Armand Joseph Lallemand, shows the tomb of the Abbé de Sieyès at Père Lachaise cemetery, located in division 30. It depicts the stone tomb enclosed by an iron railing, with carved panels bearing inscriptions.

Why it matters

The image documents how Sieyès was memorialized after his death, offering insight into how later generations chose to remember a man who played a central role in revolutionary and post-revolutionary politics. As a print rather than a photograph, it reflects nineteenth-century conventions for depicting monuments.

Look closer

• What does the style of the tomb suggest about how Sieyès was regarded after his death?
• Why might an artist create a print of a tomb rather than photograph it?
• What does this image not tell you about Sieyès's life or achievements?