Four French Horsemen In A Clearing C.1810 - Vincenz Georg Kininger (1767-1851)

A fine quality and highly detailed ink, wash and whitewash study on paper of a group of French horsemen in a clearing by the renowned German-Viennese artist Vincenz George Kininger (1767-1851). Signed by the artist lower right. This atmospheric image depicts four French horsemen. The two figures on the right wearing helmets are dragoons in Napoleon's army and they carry imperial eagles on their equestrian gear - saddle holsters and pistol holster caps. They both carry carbines slung from their shoulder belts - the butts of the weapons protrude from the outside of their horses - and the officers never carried carbines. They are therefore soldiers of a dragoon regiment, although it may not be possible to identify their precise regiment; their lapels are pale and probably yellow or pink. If they are meant to represent the dragoons of the Imperial Guard, their lapels would be white and their collars should be dark green like their coats, their collars also being pale. The two gentlemen in bearskins probably represent the Grenadier à Cheval of the Imperial Guard - dark blue coats, white lapels and dark blue collars. their plumes would have been scarlet. The most visible of the pair also has a carbine or, more accurately, a musket - the carbines were short, the muskets were longer in the barrel. There were no Grenadiers à Cheval in the Line Cavalry, they only existed within the Imperial Guard... and fortunately by 1810, or around this date of this photo, the cavalrymen were no longer required to throw grenades from horseback! Kinninger: Vincenz Georg K., born 1767 in Regensburg, † May 17, 1851 in Vienna, entered the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna in 1781, received his first artistic training at Dirter's engraving school and from 1786 he studied under Professor John Jacobi. His talent and hard work earned him the affection of the director of the Academy of Arts, J. Füger, who took warm care of the artist, even making material sacrifices for his advancement. After completing his training at the academy in 1790, he worked independently and received numerous commissions both at home and abroad. His faithful reproductions of the old masters in mezzotint were handled with great sensitivity. He was frequently employed by the Vienna Art and Industry Trade Fair, founded in 1801, where he executed several large sheets based on works by Abel, Füger, Angelika Kaufmann, Ruthard, Grassi, Lanzi, etc. The artist had the greatest skill in portraits, which he produced in large numbers. In his last years, Kininger also made lithographs based on images by Füger, Teniers, Dujardin, Rubens and Loder. Hormayr, Geography and History Archives, 1823, p. 15. Auer Faust's Polygraphic Journal, J. 1855, p. 180. Weiß, Karl, "Kinninger, Vincenz Georg" in: Allgemeine Deutsche Biografie 15 (1882), p. 771 [online version]; URL: https://www.deutsche-biographie.de/pnd116175494.html#adbcontent Regensburg, Germany (1767) / Vienna, Austria (1851) "Viennese Officers on Horseback" This beautiful work by a famous artist is ready to hang and enjoy under fine art glass, in an antique gilt frame in a conservation quality mat. Higher resolution images available on request. Worldwide shipping available. Sheet: 34 cm x 44 cm / 13.5 in x 17.5 in. Framed: 52.5 cm x 59.5 cm / 20.5 in x 235 in. I am very grateful to Dr Andrew Cormack for his assistance in identifying this portrait and for his comments on the uniform.