This print is an illustration to a group of prints depicting events during the French Revolution. The prints with accompanying text were originally sold separately between 1791-4, then were issued as a set of three bound volumes 'Collection complète des tableaux historiques de la révolution française' in 1804. The authors of the work were all actively involved in the early stages of the revolution, as was the artist of this print, Jean-Louis Prieur.

This scene shows Camille Desmoulins addressing a crowd outside the Palais Royale on the 12 July 1879. People gathered at the nearby cafes, in particular the Café de Foi, to air grievances about the government. On the 12 July, the Paris crowd heard news of the dismissal of the popular Finance minister Jacques Necker. They had hoped that his more egalitarian strict approach to taxes (the nobility and clergy were mostly exempt from paying these) would improve the France's finance situation, especially for the ordinary people. Desmoulins, a trainee lawyer, standing on a table to address the crowd, described the dismissal of Necker as an insult to the ordinary people and their hopes and wishes. He attacked the monarchy and called for a France free to be ruled by the people. He suggested wearing cockades to show allegiance to the cause; initially green, Necker’s colour, but soon changing to red and blue, the colours of Paris. Riots began, culminating in the fall of the Bastille two days later.