DETAILLE, Jean Baptiste Edouard - b. 1848 Paris, d. 1912 Paris

French academic painter and military artist noted for his precision and realistic detail. He was regarded as the “semi-official artist of the French army”.

He was born into a prosperous family from Picardy with a military background, his grandfather having served as an arms supplier to Napoleon. He studied under Ernest Meissonier and served in the Franco-Russian war. From 1867 until his death he exhibited regularly and successfully at the Paris Salon. The example of his teacher and his involvement in the Franco-Prussian War provided the themes for this conservative artist. He executed representations of actual war events and historical scenes from the time of Napoleon Bonaparte, paintings and two panoramas with monumental battle scenes, one of which was exhibited in Paris in 1882 and the other in Vienna in 1883.

The Dream

In this painting the myth and reality confront each other. Soldiers have prepared themselves a place to rest for the night on the ground, their rifles have been placed upright to make a neat line that stretches as far as the horizon. An unworldly scene unfurls against the sky. French military triumph is represented by the patriotic colours of red, white, and blue.

This impressive work demonstrates a patriotism that developed in France after the Prussian victory of 1870-71.