Any Military History Experts out there that could Identify this 1799 Army Uniform? We found this old tapestry up in a relatives attic which we had never seen before. Just curious if...

Lorima Loc: Colorado

We found this old tapestry up in a relatives attic which we had never seen before.

Just curious if anyone would know what type of Military uniform this would have been.
It has the artist name of P. Grattron? 99 on the tapestry and we are assuming by the clothing would be 1799.
Our family come from England and this looks like the man is wearing a bearskin hat? Anyone have any idea.

Thank you so much.

(Download)

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

I would guess French. There were not any really official Revolutionarh Army uniforms. The artists name would be French.

Lorima Loc: Colorado

John_F wrote:

I would guess French. There were not any really official Revolutionarh Army uniforms. The artists name would be French.

Thank you John, it did not look like a uniform from the Revolutionary war that we could find. Also the artist's name if very hard to read as the tapestry is thread bare in places.

(Download)

erinjay64

From what little exposure I have had to such I would guess it to be a Hussar's uniform...light cavalry of the French Second Empire (1852-1870). The British also had Hussars, but their uniforms were usually blue.

Lorima Loc: Colorado

erinjay64 wrote:

From what little exposure I have had to such I would guess it to be a Hussar's uniform...light cavalry of the French Second Empire (1852-1870). The British also had Hussars, but their uniforms were usually blue.

Thank you, I was also trying to date the clothing worn by the woman which looks like Regency era 1795-1820. It also looks like the man is wearing Hussars style boots.

blackhorse 1-7

I believe this is a British Artillery officer's uniform from around 1815, belonging to the Royal Horse Artillery. Note the notch in upper front of the boot (classic horse/cavalry). Note the horizontal "breast plates" on front of the uniform which was classic artillery. Also, the "BEAR SKIN" hat of that period had a small brim and as such was not as high as we see them today. Hope this helps. -David

Erdos2 Loc: Vancouver, WA

Here is a very similar (same image, not as colorful) item that is currently for sale on ebay.....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-French-Romantic-Tapestry-Signed-Paul-GROLLERON-Empire-Hussar-Soldier-/231606166981

The fact that two images, nearly identical, might indication a reproduction based on an original. (I am no expert in this area (very far from it). I just like the challenge of the search)

Further searches of the name Paul Grolleron show he was a fairly famous French artist in the late 1800s.

Jerry

Lorima Loc: Colorado

blackhorse 1-7 wrote:

I believe this is a British Artillery officer's uniform from around 1815, belonging to the Royal Horse Artillery. Note the notch in upper front of the boot (classic horse/cavalry). Note the horizontal "breast plates" on front of the uniform which was classic artillery. Also, the "BEAR SKIN" hat of that period had a small brim and as such was not as high as we see them today. Hope this helps. -David

Thank you so much for tour very detailed description.

Lorima Loc: Colorado

Erdos2 wrote:

Here is a very similar (same image, not as colorfu... (show quote)

Jerry you are amazing. That is indeed the same painting. So this is a French painting interesting. Thanks so much.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Jerry, where did you find Paul Grolleron? I seached Wikipedia under List of French artists and List of French painters. The name Grolleron appeared in neither. Of course, Wiki is never the last word. Wiki info is compiled by unnamed 'experts' and mistakes should be expected. Perhaps Grolleron might have been judged as 'minor' by whomever. When I get the time I will try the name in Rootsweb, that genealogy database.

Erdos2 wrote:

Here is a very similar (same image, not as colorfu... (show quote)

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Did a search of that name in both RootsWeb and Ancestory and found no entries for a year within the 18th and 19th century range. Of course, maybe no genealogy on him has been done. I will join one of the Rootsweb forum lists and simply ask the world.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

The 99 and the kind of clothes makes 1799 very suggestive and too early for 1815.

blackhorse 1-7 wrote:

I believe this is a British Artillery officer's uniform from around 1815, belonging to the Royal Horse Artillery. Note the notch in upper front of the boot (classic horse/cavalry). Note the horizontal "breast plates" on front of the uniform which was classic artillery. Also, the "BEAR SKIN" hat of that period had a small brim and as such was not as high as we see them today. Hope this helps. -David

Tom DePuy Loc: Waxhaw, N.C.

Paul Louis Narcisse Grolleron (1848 - 1901)

Biography Paul Louis Narcisse Grolleron
Paul Louis Narcisse Grolleron was taught by Leon Bonnat and appeared at the Paris Salon from 1873. He painted genre scenes and several portraits, but above all history paintings and military subjects, which were greatly appreciated by the public.

Works:
A Reunion in 1870
Detachment of French Infantry
Seated Fantassin
Defending the Road
Fight in a Factory within Paris City Walls
Soldier of the First Empire on Guard

Erdos2 Loc: Vancouver, WA

John_F wrote:

Jerry, where did you find Paul Grolleron? I seached Wikipedia under List of French artists and List of French painters. The name Grolleron appeared in neither. Of course, Wiki is never the last word. Wiki info is compiled by unnamed 'experts' and mistakes should be expected. Perhaps Grolleron might have been judged as 'minor' by whomever. When I get the time I will try the name in Rootsweb, that genealogy database.

I did a number of searches with the name previously guessed and variations of what the signature could be, but didn't find much. A search of just "french tapestry hussar" hit pay dirt. I based the comment about how well known he was from the wording in the ebay posting (which might be an exaggeration). Like I said, I am not an expert in this area.

From the ebay text: "This is a romantic French tapestry (printed and embroidered) from the end of the 19th century. It finely depicts an amorous scene with a Lady and a soldier: fourth Hussar in dress uniform under the First Empire. It is signed by the artist Paul Grolleron who died in 1901. He was a well known painter for its picture depicting the French-German war of 1870's." Other websites, mostly auctions, listed quite a few works.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Lorima wrote:

We found this old tapestry up in a relatives attic which we had never seen before.

Just curious if anyone would know what type of Military uniform this would have been.
It has the artist name of P. Grattron? 99 on the tapestry and we are assuming by the clothing would be 1799.
Our family come from England and this looks like the man is wearing a bearskin hat? Anyone have any idea.

Thank you so much.

Wonderful and accomplished tapestry! there were no painting/etc by numbers in those days! The Hussar would not have looked out of place at the Battle of Waterloo.