"The Lily of France" is a royal symbol with many meanings. It signifies: Perfection, Light and Life. In 1682 it was placed on the flag of the City of New Orleans, Louisiana in honor of the French influence there. By 1789 Louis XVI was King of France , and the nation had endured a long hard winter and the crops were lost. The treasury was bankrupt after supporting America in their revolution. If he raised the taxes , people would revolt. The middle class argued that voting should be held "by head". Louis agreed and the National Asembly met. King Louis supported the middle class but they grew weary and on July 14, 1789 the middle class attacked the Bastille, a prison where the weapons were stored. The assembly made many changes. Torture and arbitrary imprisonment were abolished. Property owned by the church was seized. The highest ranks of the military were opened to every class. The people elected judges for short periods of time. NOW the common people of France controlled justice. In 1793 Louis XVI and wife Marie Antoinette were beheaded for a "multitude of crimes". The French government was taken over by a popular general, Napolean Bonepart. The flag depicted in this painting is in the marde gras colors and textured with raised flowers. Vive la France! And Long Live New Orleans!