See some of the bizarre and brilliant drawings from the huge new French Revolution Digital Archive

This article originally appeared on Culture24.

Stanford University and the Bibliothèque nationale de France have teamed up to put thousands of drawings from the 18th century French Revolution online. The results are a riot of revolt, strange creatures and colourCostume d'un benedictin porte etendart de l'armée des croisées belgiques tel qu'il s'est trouvé a la bataille de Falmagne le 28 septembre 1790

This poised chap was part of the Belgian army involved in the Battle of Falmagne, fought against the Holy Roman Empire on September 22 1790. The conflict ended in an Austrian victory.

Mortels sont égaux, ce n'est pas la naissance c'est la seule vertu qui fait la différence

"Mortals are equal", reads this allegorical scene, printed in Paris in 1794 and later acquired by collector Carl de Vinck.

Catherine II donnant conge a François et a Brunswick le foireux

In 1792, the Brunswick Manifesto saw the Imperial and Prussian armies threaten aggression against the people of France if they harmed the French royal family, resisted their advance or opposed the reinstatement of the monarchy. This monograph, issued in London in the same year, shows Catherine the Great - Russia's longest-serving female leader - on intimidating form.

Veüe et perspective du chasteau et du canal de St. Clou nouvellement achevé de bâtir

This charming engraving by Adam Perelle (1638-1695) offers a view and perspective of the newly-finished chateau and gardens at the Château de Saint-Cloud.

Cache-pot : un rat se déguise en vieille femme pour surprendre un débit clandestin

Part of the section of the collection titled hardships and hopes, this satirical monograph, made between 1789 and 1815, apparently shows a rat disguised as an elderly woman. Not every collection can claim to portray a rodent in a dress.

Democrate tenant les Droits de l'homme

Revolutionaries and counter-revolutionaries form some of the most striking characters in the collection. This print, from 1789, relates to the democrats' treatment of human rights.

Animal amphibie

We're fairly certain Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France who ultimately met her fate at the guillotine a year after the monarchy was abolished in 1792, would have been unenamoured at her depiction as a hog-eating harpy. That's her fate in this print, collected by Michel Hennin having been created at some point between 1785 and 1788.

Destruction of the French collossus

Engraver James Gillray had an eye for colour and drama. Published in London in 1798, this symbol-strewn scene shows the downfall of France.

Madame la Constitution philosophique de la France a tout mangé

The French Constitution of 1791 was the country's first written constitution. But it was short-lived: this scene, published in Paris in 1790, shows the legislation being eaten.

St Prix dans le rôle du cardinal de Lorraine bénissant les assassins de la St Barthélemi

We're not too sure how much this glimpse of St Prix blessing the St Bartholomew's Day massacre, waged by Catholic mobs against the Huguenots during the French Wars of Religion in 1572, has to do with the performing arts. Created by Louis Simon Boizot, its drama cannot be denied.

Sans vous je périssois

Created in 1790, this work symbolises the National Guard - the French militia which was active between 1789 and 1872.

Siège de la Bastille : le 14 juillet 1789

The Storming of the Bastille - the Paris medieval fortress and prison - was perhaps the key point in the French Revolution. Engraver PF Germain produced this vision of it in 1791.

Mr Bailly présentant au roi les clefs de la ville de Paris : Sire, j'apporte à votre Majesté les clefs de sa bonne ville de Paris...

In another splendidly stylish scene, Louis XVI is portrayed visiting Paris on July 17 1789, being handed the keys to the city. Part of the Fall of the Bastille collection, this was created by Louis Le Coeur in 1789.

Gradual abolition of the slave trade : or leaving the sugar by degrees

A busy scene, this one, published by SW Fores in London on April 15 1792. What's not to admire about the headwear?

Jesus-Christ sur la montagneDiscours au peuple : Jesus-Christ traversant la montagne, une foule de peuple le suivit, et la s'étant arrêté, il leur répèta cette parabole

The decree of the clergy, made in November 1789, during the Revolution, allowed the property of the clergy of the Catholic church to be made available to repay the debts of the nation. This print was created in 1789 or 1790.

Rendez donc à César ce qui est à César et à Dieu ce qui est à Dieu. selon St Mathieu chap. 22 : l'Assemblée nationale a arreté le jour des morts à 568 voix contre 346 1.o que les biens ecclésiastiques sont à la disposition de la nation, à la charge de pourvoir d'une manière convenable à l'entretien de ses ministres

Quite a title, there. This monograph, made in Paris in 1789, alludes to the confiscation of church property.

Fédération générale faite à Paris : le 14 juillet 1790

The Fête de la Fédération, held on July 14 1790, commemorated the first anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille and the unity of the French Nation. This ceremony, held on the Champ-de-Mars, was made by engraver Pierre-Gabriel Berthault in 1792.

• Visit the full amazing archive at frda.stanford.edu.

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Three museums to find French history in

Dumfries Museum and Camera Obscura
The current exhibition, Waterloo Remembered, looks back on the 200th anniversary of the battle in which a French army under the command of Napoleon was defeated by the armies of the Seventh Coalition, an Anglo-allied army under the command of the Duke of Wellington combined with a Prussian army under the command of Gebhard von Blücher. Until January 3 2016.

The French Institute, London
The freely accessible multi-media library, la Médiathèque, holds the largest open-access collection of French-language material in the UK, and is housed in a listed art-deco premises.

Huguenot Museum, Rochester
The Huguenot Museum tells the story of Britain's first refugees: the skills they brought to the UK, their descendants, and relevance to the story of refugees today.

Source: http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/art541112-french-revolution-archive-stanford-university-national-library-paris