Militaire Français. Gabriel-Jean-Joseph Molitor. French Military engraving c1810

by d'Haudricourt, Ternisien

General de Division, Comte de l'Empire. Gabriel-Jean-Joseph Comte de Molitor (1770-1849). Molitor showed allegiance successively to Napoleon, the French Republic, and the French Empire. He held many prominent military positions. After the abdication of Napoleon, Molitor was made Inspector-General of Infantry. After the revolution he was made Grand-Chancellor of the Legion d'Honneur.

This is a small antique engraving by Dequevauviller after a drawing by Swebach, for Les Fastes de la Nation Françaises (The Annals of the French Nation), to perpetuate the memory of Hauts Faits militaries, les Trait de vertus civiques, ainsi que les Actions memorable des Membres de la Legion-d’Honneur, (illustrating great military achievements and civic feats of bravery), published in Paris between 1804 and 1816 by Monsieur Ternisien d’Haudricourt.

The Legion of Honour, a military and civil order of merit, was the premier order of the French republic, created by Napoleon to honour for war services, and extraordinary military bravery and service in times of war. The award of the Legion of Honour automatically carried with it the Croix de Guerre (Military Cross), the highest French military medal.

Fine later hand-colour. Edges of page are soiled and age-discoloured. Below the image, the text has been folded horizontally to facilitate mount and framing. Page size, with descriptive French text below engraving, 273 x 197mm (10 ¾ x 7 7/8 inches). Engraving size 90 x 135mm (approx. 3.5 x 5.25 inches).