Napoleonic General of Division on Horseback, Bellangé, French Military Print 1843
This finely hand-coloured military print depicts a General of Division of the Napoleonic army, shown on horseback and accompanied by his aide-de-camp, identified in the caption as “Général de division et son aide-de-camp, 1812.” The scene captures the commanding presence and ceremonial splendour of a senior French officer during the height of Napoleon I’s imperial campaigns, with particular reference to the period of the Russian campaign and the later years of the Empire.
The general is portrayed mounted on a white horse, wearing a richly decorated dark blue uniform with gold epaulettes, sash, and orders, emphasizing his high rank within the Grande Armée. The aide-de-camp follows closely behind, reinforcing the hierarchical structure and operational discipline of Napoleonic command. The careful rendering of uniforms, horse trappings, and regalia reflects the period’s obsession with military distinction and visual authority, making this image both a historical document and a work of refined military art.
This print originates from the illustrated volume “Histoire de l’Empereur Napoléon” by P.-M. Laurent de l’Ardèche, published in Paris in 1843 and illustrated after designs by Hippolyte (Horace) Bellangé, one of the most important 19th-century French military art...
Category
Antique 1840s French Prints