Retrato do Marechal Ney, Duque de Elchingen
1857
Ernest Meissonier, a master of hyper-detailed military scenes, captures the legendary Marshal Ney here in a moment of calm command atop a prancing horse. Notice how the central figure sits perfectly poised, adorned with the grand star of the Legion of Honor, while the soldiers behind him fade into ghostly, sketchy outlines. Meissonier was famous for his obsession with historical accuracy, often studying real horses and antique uniforms to get every button right. This 1857 drawing honors the 'Bravest of the Brave,' a Napoleonic hero who was later executed for his loyalty to the exiled emperor.
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