"Napoleons horse at Aspern Essling" Topic

As part of my preparations I have treated myself to a new Napoleon.

The Battle Honours Sculpt is superb and will serve my purpose admirably.

However, I have hit a dead end as to which of his Majesty's horses he was mounted on.

Marengo seems to be odds on favourite but I was wondering if anyone had a definite answer before I start painting his mount?

Best wishes,

Chris

Marengo almost certainly did not exist. He was a "composite character" and neither of the skeletons in our NAM and La Musee de l'Armee are him. There is no record of him in the Imperial stables and this book;

link

(which is riddled with historical errors) is very convincing on that

Interesting stuff Mr D.

I believe it is recorded that Napoleon had at least one hundred and fifty horses assigned to him. He was thrown by one of them prior to Aspern and I assume that he was not too keen on seeing it again.

I have not read this book but I do understand that the stables did not have this beast listed under the name Marengo. Apparently dual names is not unusual but Marengo as a name seems to have had a good run in popular history.

I also believe that the poor animal, captured at Waterloo had two hooves removed as souvenirs, but was put on display after its demise.

Nevertheless the NAM have just refurbished the creature as I understand.

Musée de l'Armée, has another stuffed character called le Vizir, which again has been recently spruced up.

However, names aside, my primary interest is the colour scheme of the horse on duty that day.

The paintings of his Majesty at Wagram a few months later show him on a grey and in the absence of hard evidence I am probably using that painting as a reference.

Fascinating thing history.

Best wishes,

Chris

Napoleon's coachman made his fortune in London post 1815 with his tales of the carriage capture by the Prussians and his miraculous survival. The only snag is that Imperial Household records did not reveal anyone of his name (Jean Hornn)

The Postchaise in question was exhibited for over a century as the vehicle that brought Napoleon back from Russia in 1812. Which is remarkable, as it was only constructed in early 1815.

Antoine Faveau's Carabinier Cuirasse pierced by a cannonball usually evokes sympathy for him. But he is recorded as marrying a year or two later. Maybe he was only winded….

Shame to spoil a good story with too many facts. The book is desperately badly researched historically, but the author has done a very good job of investigating the Marengo myth

I did love the recent sale of "Napoleon's hat". He was an emperor and not short of a bob or two and may have had a few!

For what it is worth, a completely unscientific search of the internet shows Napoleon generally riding greys and white horses in artwork. There are a very few with him on dark colored horses. You would probably be okay with a light grey/white mount.

Thank you Mr Red Jacket for your thoughts.

I am also following your logic and in the absence of facts to the contrary will go for a grey.

Best wishes,

Chris

Horace Vernet did show him on a white horse, however painted in 1836 – you can just google Napoleon Wagram 1809

Deadhead,
Say it ain't so!
I remember a "Speed Racer" cartoon from my youth (I am 63) that definately said Marengo was Napoleon's horse. What more evidence could you possibly need?

I recently read a book on the Gettysburg Cyclorama which notes that, despite good research overall, the artist normally painted distant generals on greys even when this was known not to have been the case, in order to make them more visible. I think this is a principle miniature wargamers can appreciate.

Go with the grey, and good fortune!

I've always thought that "Beef Marengo" would have been "Cheval Marengo" prepared in an Austrian Cuirass.

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Perhaps, to cover your bases, you need to model Bonaparte's HQ with a string of differently coloured horses:

* Jet black – cuirassier furniture
* Standard black – gendarmerie furniture
* Rusty-Brown TMP – Horse colours – dragoon furniture
* Some Hussar set-up
* Some Mounted hunter set-up

Modern drawing of napoleon at Aspern Essling

Napoleon at Abensberg

Napoleon at Regensberg

Napoleon crossing onto Lobau Island

Napoleon at Wagram

Napoleon at Znaim
link

Thank you Ian, as always, for your kind help.

I also like the Napoleon at Regensburg, being treated by surgeon Yvan.

The painter is fairly contemporary, ( 1765- 1825) but importantly,the date of the action is the 23rd April, roughly a month before Aspern.

Grays seem favourite, whatever they were called, and I am painting mine up based on this handsome beast.

Thank you again and to everyone who took the time to help with their thoughts.

Best wishes,

Chris

I assume you're going to use this figure for other battles so when in doubt paint it white.