Militaire Français General P.R. Beurnonville. c1810

by d'Haudricourt, Ternisien

Pierre de Ruel, Marquis de Beurnonville (1752-1821), French general during the French Revolutionary Wars, and later a marshal of France and Deputy Grand Master of Grand Orient de France. 

Wonderful military action scene in this small antique engraving after a drawing by Louis LaFitte for Les Fastes de la Nation Françaises (The Annals of the French Nation), to honour the memory of Hauts Faits militaries, les Trait de vertus civiques, ainsi que les Actions memorable des Membres de la Legion-d’Honneur, (great military achievements, civic feats of bravery, and memorable actions of Members of the Legion of Honour). Published in Paris circa 1804-1816 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. This page is soiled and age-discoloured. It does not detract from this wonderful action scene of foot soldiers not giving away to the cavalry charge almost upon them. Below the image, the text has been folded in half horizontally to facilitate mounting. 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).