Barricade on rue de Rivoli

A cabinet card showing barricades on the rue de Rivoli during the Paris Commune.

A pencilled inscription verso in a period hand reads : 'Barricade rue de Rivoli'. Another period hand has added an extensive inscription in ink:

'Espelière (Courier) Schmidt knew he was the last man (with his son) who survived in defence of this Barricade. He was shot against the rails of the Rue Rivoli and Thuillieries [sic] gardens. He was from Strasburgh, and formerly had a Caffee [sic] behind the Palais Royal. He was a small stoutish man'.

Photographed by Collard of Paris.