The Horses of Carle Vernet

Depicting horses with an animated, illustrative flair, Carle Vernet was a horse lover from a young age. His intimate experience with the animal is evident in his work, as is his passion for the subject.

Surviving The Trauma

Carl lived and worked during the French Revolution, and was personally touched when his sister saw the guillotine. After this tragedy his style changed dramatically and he created the drawings below.

These drawings of Napoleon’s Grand Armee uniforms won Carle a great deal of acclaim. His attention to detail is magnificent and each portrait is infused with the personality of its subjects.

Mounted Artilleryman Leading Three Horses

Mounted Artilleryman Leading Three Horses

Grande Armée – Horse Artillery Gunner

Grande Armée - Horse Artillery Gunner

Grande Armée – 8th Polish Regiment of Light Horse Lancers

Grande Armée - 8th Polish Regiment of Light Horse Lancers

Grande Armée – 3rd Regiment of Light Horse Lancers

Grande Armée - 3rd Regiment of Light Horse Lancers

Grande Armée – 10th Regiment of Cuirassiers – Colonel

Grande Armée - 10th Regiment of Cuirassiers - Colonel

Grande Armée – 2nd Regiment of Carabiniers Squadron Chief

Grande Armée - 2nd Regiment of Carabiniers Squadron Chief

Grande Armée – 1st Regiment of Dragoons – Colonel

Grande Armée - 1st Regiment of Dragoons - Colonel

Grande Armée – 1st Regiment of Chasseurs à Cheval

Grande Armée - 1st Regiment of Chasseurs à Cheval

Grande Armée – 1st Regiment of Carabiniers – Fourrier Corporal

Grande Armée - 1st Regiment of Carabiniers - Fourrier Corporal

Grande Armée – 1st Regiment of Carabiniers

Grande Armée - 1st Regiment of Carabiniers

Grande Armée – Horse Artillery Colonel

Grande Armée - Horse Artillery Colonel

General Bonaparte and his chief of staff, Berthier, in the Battle of Marengo

General Bonaparte and his chief of staff, Berthier, in the Battle of Marengo

An example of a different style, this painting was done after the drawings above and it too was well-received & acclaimed by the public.

More Military?

If the military art interests you, you might also check out the horses of Carstens too.

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