
Peter Rees
Director
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Sold for £1,530 inc. premium
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Director
Provenance:
Ex. collection of Baron C. Ver Heyden De Lancey (1889-1984)
Anon. sale, Sotheby's London, 13 July 1989, lot 1089
Private collection, UK
The present lot is taken from a popular French engraving, which depicts an incident in 1809; the scene, as relayed in L'Illustration: Journal Universel in October, 1846, takes place following the victory of Ebersberg; Napoleon is stationed in the remnants of a half-destroyed house, with a young Private, Jean-Baptiste Coluche, placed on guard duty outside. Told not to let anyone pass, unless accompanied by a staff officer, Coluche dutifully stands his ground when the Emperor himself tries to pass. Rather than being punished for his actions, Coluche was decorated for his bravery.