Historical Engraving Based On A Work By Antoine Jean Gros, 19th Century

Large historical engraving based on a painting by Antoine-Jean Gros, engraved by Jazet

“The Battle of Nazareth”
Dimensions: 107 × 83 cm

Important engraving from the Empire period depicting the famous Battle of Nazareth, based on the painting by Antoine-Jean Gros (1771–1835), official painter of the Napoleonic campaigns, and masterfully engraved by Jean-Pierre-Marie Jazet (1788–1871), one of the greatest French engravers of the 19th century.

This spectacular composition depicts the battle of April 8, 1799, during the Egyptian and Syrian campaigns. General Junot, at the head of a small contingent of French cavalry and dragoons, heroically repels several thousand Ottoman horsemen on the plain of Nazareth. Gros conveys the violence of the fighting with remarkable dramatic intensity: rearing horses, smoke from gunfire, cavalry charges, infantrymen, and Eastern horsemen intermingle in a scene of great narrative power.

The engraving faithfully reproduces the lighting effects, contrasts, and rich details of the original painting. The quality of Jazet’s engraving highlights the depth of the planes, the expressiveness of the figures, and the dynamism of this vast battle scene, characteristic of the heroic painting of the First Empire.

The margin bears the following inscriptions:

• “Painted by Gros”
• “Engraved by Jazet”
• Title: “Battle of Nazareth”
• as well as the historical text describing the military action.

This large print is a remarkable example of Napoleonic artistic propaganda and one of the masterpieces of early 19th-century French engraving.

Condition: copy with wide original margins. A few foxing spots, water stains, and visible signs of handling along the edges, mainly in the margins, without affecting the quality of the engraved composition. The image is in excellent condition, with deep blacks and perfectly legible details.

Dimensions:

• Height: 107 cm
• Width: 83 cm

Estimate

Given its large dimensions, its highly sought-after Napoleonic subject matter, the reputations of Gros and Jazet, as well as its condition (despite the water stains at the margins), this engraving can be estimated at:

• €600 to €900 at a gallery or on Proantic.
• €400 to €700 at a public auction, depending on the quality of the presentation.
• €900 to €1,200 after minor restoration of the margins, cleaning by a paper conservator, and museum-quality framing.

This is a very beautiful engraving from the Empire period, particularly decorative and sought after by collectors of Napoleonic iconography.