22 February 1872

Verdaguer Shot

Photographer Eugène Appert sides with the authorities during the French Commune. He is allowed to take pictures in 1871 of the arrested communards in the Versailles prison. Afterwards, his photo portraits received wide distribution. Among the more than 300 portraits in the IISH collection are three portraits of Sergeant Verdaguer, who was shot on 22 February 1872. With a cigar in his hand, he looks almost carelessly at the camera.
Galdric Verdaguer (born in 1842) was in Montmarte (Paris) with his battalion during the 18 March 1871 uprising. He seemed to be sensitive to public pleas, and, acting counter to his general's orders, he ordered his soldiers not to shoot. Verdaguer then sided with the rebels and he was arrested on 3 June. Apparently he was not yet aware that he would be sentenced to death when this picture was made.

See also:

•  Louise Michel
•  Lucien Descaves Papers
•  Search IISH collections and databases for 'Appert'

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