Napoleon I's Hussars (napoleonic Engravings) Based On Carle Vernet, By Debucourt

It’s not easy to keep it brief on a subject that deserves… an encyclopedia! The word “HUSSARD” (which used to be spelled “houssard”) comes from the Hungarian “HUSZAR,” which gave rise to the German “HUSAR.” Renowned for their bravery, daring, speed, and lightning-fast raids, these flamboyant cavalrymen were something like the “special forces” of their time. Their numbers grew in European armies, particularly in France. Fast, energetic, and without much ceremony or caution, they would charge the enemy to achieve immediate results. General Antoine Charles de Lasalle is the most iconic figure among Napoleon I’s hussars, single-handedly embodying the spirit of this light cavalry renowned for its brazen audacity, speed, and unwavering courage. Nicknamed the “Hussar General,” he remains famous as much for his tactical strokes of genius as for his lifestyle as a rebellious dandy, a heavy drinker, and a gambler. The hussars of the Grande Armée were an elite unit dedicated to reconnaissance and lightning-fast charges, sporting richly adorned uniforms (dolmans and pelisses) and cultivating a proud and combative spirit. It was Lasalle who coined the famous, scornful phrase, “Any hussar who hasn’t died by the age of thirty is a good-for-nothing!” (For fans, *The Duellists* remains the definitive film.)The skulls at the corners of the frame pay homage to the “Hussars of Death,” established by a decree of June 12, 1792 (see the SEHRI blog)
(H 42 x W 27.5 as seen) (H 55 x W 39, frame) circa 1815–1824. From a private collection (free delivery in Paris.