Cavalry Officer By Horace Vernet

Oil painting on panel attributed to Horace Vernet, monogrammed V lower left.
It represents a cavalry officer in particular, possibly of cuirassiers. He wears the hat and leans on a long brass-sheathed cavalry saber.
The frame is original. The panel is fixed to it by nails and bears on the back the mention "Horace Vernet Canvases to paint and color fine (sic) P Contet rue Lafayette Paris". 34, rue Lafayette was probably added later.
Horace Vernet : son of Carle Vernet, born June 30, 1789 in Paris where he died January 17, 1863. He is a French painter, member of the Institut de France. Friend of Géricault by whom he was influenced, he was a faithful Bonapartist. He made his debut at the Paris Salon of 1812. He was fond of military subjects.