Ancient history was also conscripted to get around censorship. In a parody of a famous renaissance composition by Raphael, Greek orator Demosthenes (384-322 BC) warns Athenians against Philip of Macedon; but the reference to Louis-Philippe is unmistakable-especially since Daumier depicts the conservative newspaper Constitutionnel sitting in the front row!

Conventional art history, claiming to champion innovation, tends to overlook Daumier's major contribution, though he forestalled many of the advances ascribed to so-called "mainstream" artists. --