French School, Early 19th Century
Overall: 34cm (13.5in) x 37.5cm (15in)
Provenance: Private Collection
Oil on copper. French School in the attributed to Hippolyte Bellange. Equestrian portrait of Napoleon at the Battle of Ligny; oil on copper, inscribed '16me Juin 1815' verso. Copper sheet: 22.5cm x 26.2cm.
The Battle of Ligny, in which French troops of the Armée du Nord under Napoleon’s command defeated part of a Prussian army under Field Marshal Blücher, was fought on 16 June 1815. The result was a tactical victory for the French. However the bulk of the Prussian army survived and, reinforced by fresh troops, played a crucial role two days later at Waterloo. Ligny was arguably Napoleon’s last victory.
The present painting bears similarities to the battle paintings of the Hippolyte Bellangé (1800-1866), particularly in regard to the rendering of Napoleon’s charger Marengo and the detailing of the aide-de-camp as seen in his painting of Napoleon at Wagram. Bellangé studied under Baron Gros, and with the exception of some portraits, devoted himself exclusively to battle pieces. He was created an officer of the Legion d’Honneur under the Second Empire in 1861.