|
* THE ORIGINAL OIL STUDY (Preparatory Work for the Original Oil Painting) BY ARTIST MARK CHURMS. BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
Surrounded by the enemy and cut off from heir comrades, a handful of the Emperor Napoleon's French Grenadiers choose to attack, against all odds, rather than face the dishonor of surrender!
SEE LARGE PICTURE Click Here - SEE FINISHED PAINTING Click Here
(large image may take a moment to open)
MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
HONOR & GLORY
Today is December 5, 1804; the elite troopers of the Grenadiers à cheval--the most envied and the most feared of all Napoleon's cavalry units--are assembled on the Champ de Mars in Paris. The Emperor will present each regiment with a gilded bronze eagle to be placed atop their regimental standard. "Soldiers", here are your colors!" Napoleon proclaims, "These eagles will always be your rallying point…Do you swear to lay down your lives in their defense, and by your courage to keep them forever on the road to victory?", "We swear" shout the Grenadiers in unison as they promise to protect their eagles at any cost for the Honor of their regiment, the army, and France.
Two years later. Napoleon is engaged in a winter campaign against the Russian armies of Bennigsen in eastern Prussia. Bennigsen (76,000 men, 460 guns) has deployed his men for battle outside the town of Eylau against the oncoming forces of Napoleon (74,000 men, 200 guns). A titanic struggle is about to commence. At 10:30 am, February 8, 1807, the battle is raging furiously amid the blinding snow flurries. The situation for Napoleon is precarious--his center is in peril of disintegrating as a result of the decimation of Augureau's corps by Russian artillery, and now their subsequent retreat has caused a dangerous gap to appear in his center line. In the distance, Napoleon can see long columns of Russian infantry reserves supported by cavalry advancing towards the opening left by Augureau's corps.
Napoleon, recognizing the imminent danger to his army and desperately needing to reinforce his shattered center, commits the only forces available to him: Murat and the cavalry reserve and his precious Guard cavalry. At 11:30 am, he orders Murat and the cavalry reserve, the Grenadiers à cheval, Chasseurs à cheval, and the Mamelukes to take position in the French center and charge the advancing Russians. All in all, some 80 squadrons attack the Russian center in one of the greatest cavalry charges in history.
NAPOLEON'S GRENADIERS À CHEVAL
Advancing towards the Russian masses under a hail of fire, the Mounted Grenadiers of the Guard eagerly await the command to charge. "Heads up, by God!" cries General Lepic, to his Grenadiers ducking the bursting shells, "Those are bullets, not turds." As trumpeters sound the charge, the Grenadiers smash into the Russians with devastating effect: they pierce the first and second Russian infantry lines, and then turn around and run over them again in the opposite direction. Returning to the attack once more the Grenadiers force the Russians back and break their resistance causing disorder in the Russian center.
Over the din of battle trumpeters sound the recall-Lepic and some 30 Grenadiers begin to regroup and rally around the Eagle bearer only to realize that a Russian dragoon squadron has surrounded them. The Russian officer, capitalizing on his tactical advantage, calls out to Lepic: "Surrender, General, your courage has carried you too far-you are in our lines!" Not willing to readily accept defeat, the ever-colorful Lepic points at his men with his saber and replies: "Look at those mugs and tell me if they want to surrender! Grenadiers, Follow me!" With that riposte, Lepic and his Grenadiers spur their horses and crash thru the dragoons to safety.
Napoleon, praising the heroic courage of the Grenadiers à cheval this day, wrote: "My horse Guard covered itself with Glory"
Text by Troy Nichols
The Battle of Eylau, Eastern Prussia 1807 A.D. Napoleonic Wars Military History Fine Art Print and Gilcee Reproductions on canvas by Mark Churms, published by MarkChurms.com available.
HONOR & GLORY, Today is December 5, 1804; the elite troopers of the Grenadiers à cheval--the most envied and the most feared of all Napoleon's cavalry units--are assembled on the Champ de Mars in Paris. The Emperor will present each regiment with a gilded bronze eagle to be placed atop their regimental standard. "Soldiers", here are your colors!" Napoleon proclaims, "These eagles will always be your rallying point…Do you swear to lay down your lives in their defense, and by your courage to keep them forever on the road to victory?" "We swear" shout the Grenadiers in unison as they promise to protect their eagles at any cost for the Honor of their regiment, the army, and France. Two years later. Napoleon is engaged in a winter campaign against the Russian armies of Bennigsen in eastern Prussia. Bennigsen (76,000 men, 460 guns) has deployed his men for battle outside the town of Eylau against the oncoming forces of Napoleon (74,000 men, 200 guns). A titanic struggle is about to commence. At 10:30 am, February 8, 1807, the battle is raging furiously amid the blinding snow flurries. The situation for Napoleon is precarious--his center is in peril of disintegrating as a result of the decimation of Augureau's corps by Russian artillery, and now their subsequent retreat has caused a dangerous gap to appear in his center line. In the distance, Napoleon can see long columns of Russian infantry reserves supported by cavalry advancing towards the opening left by Augureau's corps. Napoleon, recognizing the imminent danger to his army and desperately needing to reinforce his shattered center, commits the only forces available to him: Murat and the cavalry reserve and his precious Guard cavalry. At 11:30 am, he orders Murat and the cavalry reserve, the Grenadiers à cheval, Chasseurs à cheval, and the Mamelukes to take position in the French center and charge the advancing Russians. All in all, some 80 squadrons attack the Russian center in one of the greatest cavalry charges in history. NAPOLEON'S GRENADIERS À CHEVAL Advancing towards the Russian masses under a hail of fire, the Mounted Grenadiers of the Guard eagerly await the command to charge. "Heads up, by God!" cries General Lepic, to his Grenadiers ducking the bursting shells, "Those are bullets, not turds."As trumpeters sound the charge, the Grenadiers smash into the Russians with devastating effect: they pierce the first and second Russian infantry lines, and then turn around and run over them again in the opposite direction. Returning to the attack once more the Grenadiers force the Russians back and break their resistance causing disorder in the Russian center. Over the din of battle trumpeters sound the recall-Lepic and some 30 Grenadiers begin to regroup and rally around the Eagle bearer only to realize that a Russian dragoon squadron has surrounded them. The Russian officer, capitalizing on his tactical advantage, calls out to Lepic: "Surrender, General, your courage has carried you too far-you are in our lines!" Not willing to readily accept defeat, the ever-colorful Lepic points at his men with his saber and replies: "Look at those mugs and tell me if they want to surrender! Grenadiers, Follow me!" With that riposte, Lepic and his Grenadiers spur their horses and crash thru the dragoons to safety. Napoleon, praising the heroic courage of the Grenadiers à cheval this day, wrote: quot;My horse Guard covered itself with Glory" TEXT BY TROY NICHOLS, mark churms timothy, posters, prints, pictures, military history, military hertigae, elow, elau, grenadiers a cheval horse,
|
