Attributed to Émile Jean-Horace Vernet 1789-1863 French School Early 19th.Century. Pen, ink and wash drawing Circa.1814. 20 by 16cms.
After the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy following the defeat of Napoleon in 1814, much of the Grande Armée struggled to forsake their allegiances to the deposed Emperor. Multiple disputes erupted between soldiers loyal to Napoleon and those loyal to the King. The image here depicts such an event, the two officers under the supervision of their seconds prepare to fight a duel. The Napoleonic officer wears the distinctive cadenets, pigtails plaited at the temples.
From an artistic dynasty Horace Vernet was the grandson of Claude-Joseph Vernet. He studied under his father Carle, first exhibiting at the Salon from 1812. From 1828 to 1835 he was Director of the French Academy in Rome. He enjoyed the patronage of the duc d'Orléans, later King Louis-Philippe, who commissioned numerous battle scenes, orientalist and military subjects.