Untitled

The outbreak of hostilities between France and Prussia in 1870 momentarily interrupted Detaille's art career. He enlisted in the Home Guard of the Seine, a military unit, and was assigned to use his skills to map enemy positions. He sketched tirelessly during his enlistment and accumulated a wealth of source material that depicted the campaigns and battles he observed. France suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Prussian army, but Detaille translated his views of the war into paintings for the next two decades. By presenting a romanticized view that emphasized the nobility of the effort, he endeared himself to his countrymen and the new regime that assumed power following the collapse of the Second Empire. He was often called upon to showcase the merits of the new French army as it was rebuilt to face future challenges.

Detaille's portrait of a wounded French hussar from the Franco-Prussian War exhibits the superb draftsmanship and attention to detail that brought praise from the critics of his day. To assure the authenticity of the subjects he depicted, he kept a large array of military regalia and weaponry in his studio. The finely crafted portrait of the horse and rider contrasts sharply with the eerie light of the background, where a decimated forest bears witness to the destruction that has taken place. A master of mood, Detaille has successfully pictured the loneliness of this survivor, a pathetic but proud figure who waits to be reassured by a sympathetic audience of his countrymen.