Execution of Louis Capet 16th of the name on January 21, 1793

Cleveland, after spending a few years in America, has finally returned to France with his twins. His wife Fanny fled him during the crossing, believing him to be unfaithful, which plunged him into incurable apathy. Settling in Saumur, he sank further and further into despair, to the point of contemplating suicide. One day, he is about to take the plunge when his twins appear: on seeing them, he thinks for a moment of killing them before ending his life, but their pleas bring him back to himself and he finally abandons his plan

In the image, the Cleveland twins are on their knees before their father, imploring him as they sense his murderous enterprise. The protagonist, in the throes of tears, still holds the sword he was thinking of using.