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THE DREAM
By EDOUARD DETAILLE (1848-1912)
IN THE LUXEMBOURG, PARIS
This picture acquires an added interest in view of the rejuvenation of martial enthusiasm in France. The subject symbolises the military glory of the nation, and shows the panoply of war as opposed to its grim realities.
Detaille, who was born in Paris in 1848, was one of the very few pupils taken by Meissonier, whose influence as a military painter at once appealed to him and has affected his work ever since. He began to paint when he left school at the age of eighteen, and his first studies in his master's studio were of military subjects. His first picture exhibited in the Salon (in 1867) showed " A Corner of Meissonier's Studio," but the following year he produced "A Halt," followed in 1869 by " Soldiers at Rest during the Manaeuvres in the Camp of Saint Maur," and thereafter he continued to build up a reputation as a faithful reproducer upon canvas of the details of a soldier's life. " The Dream," which is his best known picture in this country, was painted in 1888.
His portraits, which are associated with military subjects, are also noteworthy. Well known to English picture lovers is his painting showing the late King Edward with the Duke of Connaught at the time when the former was Prince of Wales.
There is a story connected with another picture, " Salut aux Blesses "- considered his best work - which illustrates the sensitiveness of his countrymen on the point of military renown. He had painted, so the tale runs, a picture showing a group of wounded French soldiers passing a Prussian General and his staff, who paid honour to them by a salute. It was represented that the subject would be likely to be unpopular, and the artist painted it again so that the incident showed the French staff saluting the wounded Germans!
From the book "Famous Paintings" Volume 2 printed in 1913.
Large files of this public domain print are available at Stock Photos at Songs of Praise
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Online "Name the Painting"
Edouard Detaille
at Wikipedia
Jean Baptiste Edouard Detaille
pronunciation
Detaille Military Prints
Militaria
several paintings by Detaille
Famous Paintings in this Series
