Henry OSMONT : CAPITAINE EN SECOND DE COLONEL GÉNÉRAL, règlement de 1786, Ancienne Monarchie, règne de Louis XVI, vers 1786-1789 : portrait miniature daté 1780. 26641
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HENRY OSMONT: SECOND CAPTAIN OF THE COLONEL GENERAL, 1786 Regulation, Old Monarchy, Reign of Louis XVI, around 1786-1789: dated 1780 miniature portrait. 26641
Oval-shaped miniature H 9.2 cm, W 7.7 cm (sight).
Watercolor and gouache.
It depicts the officer in full dress uniform made entirely of white wool, with crimson velvet piping, lapels, cuffs, and turnbacks. Stand-up collar with piping. Buttoning straight on the chest. The front is adorned with two crimson velvet lapels with eight false buttonholes in golden trim, golden uniform buttons. Crimson velvet cuffs and piping of the same color edged with a trim and two false buttonholes similar to the lapels. Pair of epaulets in golden trim, consisting of one epaulet (without fringe) and one with soft fringes called "pit ropes." The officer holds a riding crop in his right hand. Positioned to his right in the background is his officer's helmet in black varnished leather with gold fittings, black mane, and white plume. At the top right of the portrait, the captain's coat of arms is painted.
Signed and dated at the bottom right "OSMONT Henry pixi 80" (1780).
Gilt brass frame, glass framed in a blackened wooden frame, H 14.1 cm, width 13.9 cm.
France.
Old Monarchy, Reign of Louis XVI, around 1786-1789.
Very good condition.
PROVENANCE:
Former Bernard Franck and then Raoul and Jean Brunon collection.
In his book "Idéal vécu" Jean Brunon writes about the Bernard Franck collection: "In my time, the two most important collectors of military memorabilia were first André Lévy and a little later, Doctor Polaillon. There was a third one, Bernard Franck, but his collection, significant in quantity, was partly inferior in quality. ... I knew this character in the late 1920s. Bernard Franck, owner of a major military supplies company, died shortly after and the importance of his collections was such that sales at the Hôtel Drouot were spread over several years, with each session offering varied pieces, composed of real or fake items. ... The most astonishing set in terms of quantity consisted of several hundred miniatures, almost all, of course, from the Republic and the Empire. The vast majority of these miniatures were alas the work of copyists or even artists for whom Bernard Franck was the ideal client, as their imagination could run wild, knowing that in this lenient amateur buyer, they would find an enthusiastic buyer. One wonders what has become of these 'wonders.' Some miniatures were from the Louis XVI period, all authentic."
NOTE:
Representations of officers of the Colonel regiment are rare.
HISTORY:
The Colonel General regiment was an infantry regiment of the Kingdom of France, created in 1480 from the Picardie bands, the oldest military unit, and one of the five Old Small units, which became during the Revolution the 1st line infantry regiment.
Creation and various denominations:
October 9, 1480: Creation of the Picardie bands.
May 29, 1569: Creation of the Sarrieu regiment.
1585: They took the name of the Picardie regiment.
1780: Named the Colonel General regiment, with the title of Colonel General. The king had just reestablished, by an ordinance dated April 5 of that year, the position of Colonel General of the infantry in favor of the Prince of Condé.
1791: Becomes the 1st line infantry regiment formerly the Colonel General.
The position of Colonel General of the infantry in favor of the Prince of Condé.
The regiment, as the first body of the line infantry, became the property of the Colonel General and was responsible for guarding its flag.
The Colonel General regiment's Ordnance flag, as well as its Colonel flag, bears the Latin motto Praetriti fides exemplum que futuri, meaning "loyalty to the past, an example for the future."
The regiment was stationed in Le Havre in 1781, Lille in 1782, Besançon in 1784, Schelestadt in 1785, Toul in 1787, and again in Lille in 1788.
PROVENANCE:
Former Bernard Franck Collection (1848-1924), industrialist, Paris. Prints and drawings.
Born and deceased in Paris, Bernard Franck (his descendants later combined the first name and surname and adopted the family name of Bernard-Franck) completed his secondary education in this city. He then had a two-year internship in America. During the 1870 war, he was a corporal in the "Mobile"; he enlisted for the duration of the hostilities in the 1st Zouaves Regiment. Captured, he escaped, rejoined the Loire army, and was awarded the Legion of Honor for his excellent conduct. He managed, with his father, the family firm founded in 1804 by his grandfather, a manufacturer of military equipment, which still exists today. Grandson and great-nephews of Empire soldiers, son of a collector, he naturally became a collector himself, starting mainly with objects related to military life, primarily during the Revolution and the Empire: weapons, insignias, portrait miniatures, paintings, drawings, prints, books, including costume collections. Then his interest expanded to showcase items from the same periods and earlier, with the shining 18th century that produced the most refined objects. The collector often lent items for various exhibitions, such as: retrospective of the 1900 Universal Exhibition (full special showcase acquired by Pierpont Morgan, now at the Metropolitan Museum in New York), Exhibition of French 18th-century Art, Brussels 1904 (80 items); Centennial Exhibition of Eugène Isabey and Raffet, Paris, 1904 (20 miniatures), 18th-century Exhibition, Paris, National Library, 1906 (15 miniatures), etc. Part of the collections Bernard Franck had gathered over fifty years of effort were dispersed in about fifteen public sales, most of them anonymous; we provide below the report on the five most important sales made under his name. Another part, remaining in the family, suffered significant thefts during the German occupation in the Second World War. Fortunately, entire crates were later found and recovered. The label, in color and gold, is found on the back of the frames.
SALES
I. 1935, February 22-23, Paris (experts P. Foury, G. Bernard, L. Bourdier). Preface by H. Nocq. 272 lots including 39 of paintings and drawings, 62 of miniatures (by David, Gasparolio, Gigola, Heinsius, J. B. Isabey, Lagrenée, Léandri, Lecour, Nasti, Quaglia, etc.), the others for weapons, decorations, bronzes, military copperware, historical objects, etc.
II. 1935, March 8-9, Paris (same experts). Library. 430 lots. Books, albums, and collections of prints and watercolors concerning French and foreign military costumes and historical scenes by: V. Adam, Andrieux, Aubry, Bürger, H. Bellangé, Charlet, Chéreau, A. Dumaresq, Duplessi-Bertaux, Grasset Saint-Sauveur, Gravelot, Imagerie, H. Lalaisse, Martinet, A. Menzel, de Montigny, Raffet, Sergent, H. Vernet, etc., albums or collections of various lithographs: V. Adam, Boilly, La Caricature, Charlet, G. Doré, Gavarni, H. Monnier, etc. Books on fine arts, theater, fashions, Paris and its surroundings (albums of views including Bacler d'Albe, Janinet), etc.
III. 1935, March 21-22, Paris (same experts). 346 lots. Objects of the same kind as in the 1st sale. Among the 60 lots of paintings, watercolors, and engravings, we note the series of 8 military costumes engraved after Hoffmann, colored prints, enhanced with gold and silver, and its 2 original gouaches. 109 lots of miniatures.
IV. 1935, April 3-4, Paris (same experts). Same kind as the previous one. 449 lots including 36 for engravings, 47 for paintings, drawings, posters, placards, etc., and 104 for miniatures.
V. 1955, February 17, Paris (experts M. Rousseau, P. Foury, R. J. Charles). Without catalog. Watercolors, drawings, pieces related to balloons, popular images, historical scenes, portraits (Napoleonic, French and foreign generals and marshals), military costumes and scenes, prints from the early 19th century, views (France and abroad) "from the former Bernard Franck collection." Primary sales: Kobell, "General Table" of French and Austrian infantry and cavalry for 20,000 and 26,000 francs respectively; Rugendas, 13 battles for 28,000 francs; Debucourt after C. Vernet, Polish Lancers in Garrison and Grand Guard of Polish Lancers for 20,000 francs.
Other sales from the same source are being prepared and will also be done without a catalog.
Oval-shaped miniature H 9.2 cm, W 7.7 cm (sight).
Watercolor and gouache.
It depicts the officer in full dress uniform made entirely of white wool, with crimson velvet piping, lapels, cuffs, and turnbacks. Stand-up collar with piping. Buttoning straight on the chest. The front is adorned with two crimson velvet lapels with eight false buttonholes in golden trim, golden uniform buttons. Crimson velvet cuffs and piping of the same color edged with a trim and two false buttonholes similar to the lapels. Pair of epaulets in golden trim, consisting of one epaulet (without fringe) and one with soft fringes called "pit ropes." The officer holds a riding crop in his right hand. Positioned to his right in the background is his officer's helmet in black varnished leather with gold fittings, black mane, and white plume. At the top right of the portrait, the captain's coat of arms is painted.
Signed and dated at the bottom right "OSMONT Henry pixi 80" (1780).
Gilt brass frame, glass framed in a blackened wooden frame, H 14.1 cm, width 13.9 cm.
France.
Old Monarchy, Reign of Louis XVI, around 1786-1789.
Very good condition.
PROVENANCE:
Former Bernard Franck and then Raoul and Jean Brunon collection.
In his book "Idéal vécu" Jean Brunon writes about the Bernard Franck collection: "In my time, the two most important collectors of military memorabilia were first André Lévy and a little later, Doctor Polaillon. There was a third one, Bernard Franck, but his collection, significant in quantity, was partly inferior in quality. ... I knew this character in the late 1920s. Bernard Franck, owner of a major military supplies company, died shortly after and the importance of his collections was such that sales at the Hôtel Drouot were spread over several years, with each session offering varied pieces, composed of real or fake items. ... The most astonishing set in terms of quantity consisted of several hundred miniatures, almost all, of course, from the Republic and the Empire. The vast majority of these miniatures were alas the work of copyists or even artists for whom Bernard Franck was the ideal client, as their imagination could run wild, knowing that in this lenient amateur buyer, they would find an enthusiastic buyer. One wonders what has become of these 'wonders.' Some miniatures were from the Louis XVI period, all authentic."
NOTE:
Representations of officers of the Colonel regiment are rare.
HISTORY:
The Colonel General regiment was an infantry regiment of the Kingdom of France, created in 1480 from the Picardie bands, the oldest military unit, and one of the five Old Small units, which became during the Revolution the 1st line infantry regiment.
Creation and various denominations:
October 9, 1480: Creation of the Picardie bands.
May 29, 1569: Creation of the Sarrieu regiment.
1585: They took the name of the Picardie regiment.
1780: Named the Colonel General regiment, with the title of Colonel General. The king had just reestablished, by an ordinance dated April 5 of that year, the position of Colonel General of the infantry in favor of the Prince of Condé.
1791: Becomes the 1st line infantry regiment formerly the Colonel General.
The position of Colonel General of the infantry in favor of the Prince of Condé.
The regiment, as the first body of the line infantry, became the property of the Colonel General and was responsible for guarding its flag.
The Colonel General regiment's Ordnance flag, as well as its Colonel flag, bears the Latin motto Praetriti fides exemplum que futuri, meaning "loyalty to the past, an example for the future."
The regiment was stationed in Le Havre in 1781, Lille in 1782, Besançon in 1784, Schelestadt in 1785, Toul in 1787, and again in Lille in 1788.
PROVENANCE:
Former Bernard Franck Collection (1848-1924), industrialist, Paris. Prints and drawings.
Born and deceased in Paris, Bernard Franck (his descendants later combined the first name and surname and adopted the family name of Bernard-Franck) completed his secondary education in this city. He then had a two-year internship in America. During the 1870 war, he was a corporal in the "Mobile"; he enlisted for the duration of the hostilities in the 1st Zouaves Regiment. Captured, he escaped, rejoined the Loire army, and was awarded the Legion of Honor for his excellent conduct. He managed, with his father, the family firm founded in 1804 by his grandfather, a manufacturer of military equipment, which still exists today. Grandson and great-nephews of Empire soldiers, son of a collector, he naturally became a collector himself, starting mainly with objects related to military life, primarily during the Revolution and the Empire: weapons, insignias, portrait miniatures, paintings, drawings, prints, books, including costume collections. Then his interest expanded to showcase items from the same periods and earlier, with the shining 18th century that produced the most refined objects. The collector often lent items for various exhibitions, such as: retrospective of the 1900 Universal Exhibition (full special showcase acquired by Pierpont Morgan, now at the Metropolitan Museum in New York), Exhibition of French 18th-century Art, Brussels 1904 (80 items); Centennial Exhibition of Eugène Isabey and Raffet, Paris, 1904 (20 miniatures), 18th-century Exhibition, Paris, National Library, 1906 (15 miniatures), etc. Part of the collections Bernard Franck had gathered over fifty years of effort were dispersed in about fifteen public sales, most of them anonymous; we provide below the report on the five most important sales made under his name. Another part, remaining in the family, suffered significant thefts during the German occupation in the Second World War. Fortunately, entire crates were later found and recovered. The label, in color and gold, is found on the back of the frames.
SALES
I. 1935, February 22-23, Paris (experts P. Foury, G. Bernard, L. Bourdier). Preface by H. Nocq. 272 lots including 39 of paintings and drawings, 62 of miniatures (by David, Gasparolio, Gigola, Heinsius, J. B. Isabey, Lagrenée, Léandri, Lecour, Nasti, Quaglia, etc.), the others for weapons, decorations, bronzes, military copperware, historical objects, etc.
II. 1935, March 8-9, Paris (same experts). Library. 430 lots. Books, albums, and collections of prints and watercolors concerning French and foreign military costumes and historical scenes by: V. Adam, Andrieux, Aubry, Bürger, H. Bellangé, Charlet, Chéreau, A. Dumaresq, Duplessi-Bertaux, Grasset Saint-Sauveur, Gravelot, Imagerie, H. Lalaisse, Martinet, A. Menzel, de Montigny, Raffet, Sergent, H. Vernet, etc., albums or collections of various lithographs: V. Adam, Boilly, La Caricature, Charlet, G. Doré, Gavarni, H. Monnier, etc. Books on fine arts, theater, fashions, Paris and its surroundings (albums of views including Bacler d'Albe, Janinet), etc.
III. 1935, March 21-22, Paris (same experts). 346 lots. Objects of the same kind as in the 1st sale. Among the 60 lots of paintings, watercolors, and engravings, we note the series of 8 military costumes engraved after Hoffmann, colored prints, enhanced with gold and silver, and its 2 original gouaches. 109 lots of miniatures.
IV. 1935, April 3-4, Paris (same experts). Same kind as the previous one. 449 lots including 36 for engravings, 47 for paintings, drawings, posters, placards, etc., and 104 for miniatures.
V. 1955, February 17, Paris (experts M. Rousseau, P. Foury, R. J. Charles). Without catalog. Watercolors, drawings, pieces related to balloons, popular images, historical scenes, portraits (Napoleonic, French and foreign generals and marshals), military costumes and scenes, prints from the early 19th century, views (France and abroad) "from the former Bernard Franck collection." Primary sales: Kobell, "General Table" of French and Austrian infantry and cavalry for 20,000 and 26,000 francs respectively; Rugendas, 13 battles for 28,000 francs; Debucourt after C. Vernet, Polish Lancers in Garrison and Grand Guard of Polish Lancers for 20,000 francs.
Other sales from the same source are being prepared and will also be done without a catalog.
Reference :
26641
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The selection of items offered on this site allows me to guarantee the authenticity of each piece described here, all items offered are guaranteed to be period and authentic, unless otherwise noted or restricted in the description.
An authenticity certificate of the item including the description published on the site, the period, the sale price, accompanied by one or more color photographs is automatically provided for any item priced over 130 euros. Below this price, each certificate is charged 5 euros.
Only items sold by me are subject to an authenticity certificate, I do not provide any expert reports for items sold by third parties (colleagues or collectors).
FOR ALL PURCHASES, PAYMENT IN MULTIPLE CHECKS POSSIBLE
bertrand.malvaux@wanadoo.fr 06 07 75 74 63
An authenticity certificate of the item including the description published on the site, the period, the sale price, accompanied by one or more color photographs is automatically provided for any item priced over 130 euros. Below this price, each certificate is charged 5 euros.
Only items sold by me are subject to an authenticity certificate, I do not provide any expert reports for items sold by third parties (colleagues or collectors).