This picture was inspired by Bernard Vinot’s biography of L.A. Saint – Just [link] . I was reading random fragments from it when I came across this short chapter about Therese Gelle and for the first time I realised that it is quite a sad and tragic story...

Therese Gelle was born as an illegitimate child – her father married her mother just after his first wife died. The young Therese fell in love with Antoine Saint – Just and they were going to marry. But Therese’s father changed his mind and married her to the notary Emmanuel Thorin.
A few years later, in 1793 Therese left her husband (it was a scandal) and followed Saint – Just to Paris. Mr and Mrs Thorin got divorced in July 1794. Two weeks later Robespierre, Saint - Just and their associates were executed. Right after Thermidor Therese left Paris and went back to Blerancourt. The community of the little town didn’t greet her warmly – she broke their rules and now it was hard for her to find a place for herself in this community.
Fighting money problems and involved in property lawsuits with her family, she died ten years later in age of 39.

The historians still disagree whether Antoine and Therese had an affair in Paris or not. But still, it’s a sad story about a woman who had enough courage to risk everything for a dream that maybe didn’t come true. And sadly, she lost.

The picture is symbolic of course, there’s no portrait of Therese to say how she looked like.
I know I could still work more on the details, but right now I’m tired of it.
I hope, you will enjoy and sorry for such a long description *gets bricked*.

And thanks to ~Morinoki for the title^^

Detail : [link]

Painter 8