Sapper of the Engineers, 1843, Paper

Details

Description

Title: Sapeur du Génie, Garde Impériale – French Military Uniform Print, 1843 : This finely detailed hand-colored military print depicts … Read more Title: Sapeur du Génie, Garde Impériale – French Military Uniform Print, 1843 : This finely detailed hand-colored military print depicts a Sapeur du Génie of the Imperial Guard, one of the elite engineering troops of Napoleon’s army. Although the uniform shown dates stylistically to the Napoleonic era around 1812, this impression was issued in 1843 as part of a later, carefully produced series documenting the uniforms and branches of the Grande Armée. Such post-Napoleonic issues were intended both as historical records and as collectible works, aimed at officers, veterans, and military enthusiasts of the July Monarchy period. The figure is shown standing at ease, musket grounded, wearing the distinctive bearskin helmet with red plume, dark blue coat with red facings, crossed white belts, and heavy boots typical of combat engineers. Behind him appear earthworks and artillery matériel, subtly reinforcing the role of the Génie in siege warfare, fortifications, and battlefield engineering. The careful rendering of equipment, insignia, and posture reflects the scholarly precision of these mid-19th-century military costume plates, which sought to preserve the visual memory of Napoleon’s armies after their dissolution. Such prints are closely associated with artists like Hippolyte Bellangé and contemporaries, whose works were widely admired for their accuracy and expressive quality. Issued decades after the campaigns themselves, impressions like this are now valued as historical documents in their own right, bridging lived memory and later military historiography. They appeal strongly to collectors of Napoleonic material, French military history, and hand-colored 19th-century prints. Condition report: Good overall condition. Light age toning to the paper, more noticeable in the margins. Minor scattered foxing and small spots consistent with age. Image area clean and well-preserved with fresh hand color. Plate mark faintly visible. No major tears or losses observed. Framing tips: This print presents beautifully in a classic frame with a dark walnut or ebonized molding. A soft cream or light grey mat will complement the aged paper while enhancing the colors of the uniform. Museum glass is recommended to protect the hand coloring and reduce glare. Technique: Hand-colored engraving Maker: After Hippolyte Bellangé, France, published 1843 See less