I ARMY f 1807-1814 (Z(s'y as depicted in the prints of Aaron Martinet GUY DEMPSEY, C. JR. The remark: collection of painted prin iown in this book represents of the most val- uable primaiy sources of refer- ence to Napoleonic uniforms ever assembled. They are presented here, in book form and in this quantity, for the first time. In the early nineteenth century, Aaron Martinet had the artists he employed produce a set of draw- ings of French military uniforms which were coloured and pro- duced as prints. Being created at the time Napoleon and his forces were so dominant meant that the images were created from first- hand information rather than compiled later and based on sec- ondary data. The historian, modeller, war- gamer and re-enactor will delight in having such a range of sources, in full colour, which provide this degree of authority. The reader will also benefit from Guy Dempsey's extensive captioning and his introductory text. Those who already own Napoleon's Sol- diers by the same author, featur- ing the paintings from the Otto manuscript, will be eager to add this fine volume to their personal archive. STO U 355. D39n Dempsey, Guy C. Napoleon's army ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY FORT WAYNE, INDIANA 46802 You may return this book to any agency, branch, or bookmobile ofthe Allen County Public Library D£MCO NAPOLEON'S ARMY 1807-1814, as Depicted in the Prints ofAaron Martinet NAPOLEON'S ARMY 1807-1814, as Depicted in the Prints of Aaron Martinet Guy C. Dempsey, Jr. T ARMS AND ARMOUR AllenCounty Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 FortWayne, IN 46801-227$ ForNancy ArmsandArmourPress ACassellImprint WellingtonHouse, 125Strand,LondonWC2ROBB. Distributedin the USAbySterlingPublishingCo. Inc., 387ParkAvenue South, NewYork, NY10016-8810. ©GuyC. Dempsey,Jr., 1997 All rightsreserved. No partofthisbookmaybereproducedor transmitted in anyform orbyanymeanselectronicormechanical includingphotocopyingrecordingoranyinformation storage and retrievalsystemwithoutpermission inwritingfrom the Publisher. British LibraryCataloguing-in-Publication Data: acataloguerecordfor thisbookisavailable from the British Library ISBN 1-85409-347-9 DesignedandeditedbyDAGPublicationsLtd. DesignedbyDavid Gibbons; editedbyMichael Boxall. Manyofthe Martinetprintsin thisbookhavebeen K reproducedwith the kindpermission oftheAnneS. Brown MilitaryCollection, Brown UniversityLibrary.The rest arefrom the author'spersonal collection. Printedandbound in Slovenia byarrangementwith Korotan Ljubljanad.o.o. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION, 6 I. AaronMartinetandhis Business 6 C. Imperial Guard Infantry 20 II. The TroupesFrancoisesSeries 9 D. Imperial Guard SupportTroops 21 A. Artists and Engravers 10 E. Carabiniers and Cuirassiers 21 B. Print appearance andformat 11 F. Dragoons 23 C. Series chronology 12 G. Mounted Chasseurs 24 D. The colouring process 13 H. Hussars 26 E. Size ofthe Series 14 I. LightHorse Lancers 27 HI. Reliabilityofthe Prints 15 Line Infantry 28 J. A. Single-subjectprints 16 K. LightInfantry 28 B. Multi-subjectprints 17 L. Artillery 29 IV. Uniform Information 19 M. AuxiliaryTroops 29 A. Staff 20 N. Foreign Troops 29 B. Imperial Guard Cavalry 20 PRINT REPRODUCTIONS, 33 CAPTIONS TO THE PLATES, 197 APPENDIXES, 223 A Sequential list of TroupesFrangaises F Heavy CavalryPrints 242 Prints Reproduced 224 G Dragoon Prints 244 B Listof TroupesFrangaisesPrints H Mounted Chasseur Prints 247 Reproduced (Arranged in Series I Hussar Prints 250 Numerical Order) 228 J Line LancerPrints 251 C Complete Inventoryof Troupes K Line Infantry' Prints 252 FrangaisesSeries Prints 232 L Light InfantryPrints 253 D Prints ofStaffand Other Miscellaneous M ArtilleryPrints 253 N Subjects 239 AuxiliaryUnit Prints 254 E Imperial Guard Prints 240 O Foreign Unit Prints 256 INTRODUCTION Most readers of this book have already seen This book is divided into six sections, some reproductions ofthe prints ofNapoleonic plus appendixes. The first section combines a military uniforms produced by the publishing briefbiography ofAaron Martinet with a brief house ofAaron Martinet because they are emi- history of his business. The second provides nently decorative works which have been used detailed information about the Troupes frequently as illustrations in both specialised Francaises series of prints, including a discus- and general texts about the Napoleonic era. sion about the way they were produced. The Nevertheless, very few individuals can identify third presents an analysis of the reliabilitv of Martinet prints as such on sight, and fewer still the prints as a primary source for the study of are alert to the iconographic and historical sig- Napoleonic military uniforms. The fourth nificance of this artwork. Their familiarity has gives background information about the uni- bred indifference rather than contempt, but forms worn by Napoleon's armies, which is the result is that Martinet prints have generally included for use in connection with the print been overlooked as a primary source for the reproductions and the commentaries on indi- study ofFrench First Empire militaryuniforms.1 vidual prints that form, respectively, the fifth This is most unfortunate, because careful study and sixth sections of the book. The appen- of the prints yields a vast wealth of accurate dixes take the place ofa standard index, since information about that subject. they consist of lists of prints in the Troupes The present studv focuses on a particular Francaises series sorted in a variety of ways so series of hand-coloured line engravings pub- that the reader can trace a particular print by lished by Martinet which is entitled Troupes means of any one of the following types of Francaises [French Troops]. There are almost information: 1) the number indicating its four hundred different prints in a full set order ofappearance in the Martinet series; 2) from the series, each depicting one or more the number indicating its order ofappearance soldiers from a particular regiment of in this book; and 3) the type of military unit Napoleon's army. The colour, style and detail depicted in the print. of French military costume is captured in a unique fashion by these authentically contem- porarv works. Publisher Aaron Martinet was, I. AARON MARTINETAND HIS above all else, a businessman and the success BUSINESS ofhis business required him to produce prints which faithfully represented their chosen sub- People have always been curious about the jects. In this case, his profit motive led to the world around them and have explored many creation ofenduring primary source material. ways of communicating information to satisfy