Explore "Meissonier" by Henri Barbusse on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Mention should be made, before passing on to the military paintings, of just a few other genre paintings: "The Reading at Diderot's", "The Amateurs", "The Flute Players".
But it is the military pictures that loom up largely amongst the artist's prolific output:"1807", the portrayal of the Imperial Apotheosis, the army passing by at a gallop, eagerly acclaiming the Emperor, as he answers with a salute; "1814", the decline, the retreat from Russia; "1815", the cuirassiers of Waterloo before the charge. This picture, which formed part of the Duc d'Aumale's collection, was purchased for 250,000 francs, but afterwards twice resold: the first time for 275,000 francs, the second for 400,000 francs.