Artwork
Infanterie Turque, Chasseurs
Infanterie Turque, Chasseurs is a print by the Romanticist artist Auguste Raffet. It dates from 1837 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
This sketch shows six soldiers standing in a line, all dressed in matching uniforms with tall, fur-trimmed hats and long coats.
This sketch shows six soldiers standing in a line, all dressed in matching uniforms with tall, fur-trimmed hats and long coats. One soldier in the front holds a rifle, while the others stand at attention with hands behind their backs. The background is plain, with no extra details—just the soldiers and a simple ground.
The title at the bottom calls them "Turkish Infantry (Chasseurs)" and notes the place as Constantinople in 1837. The drawing looks like it was made quickly, with loose lines that still capture the uniforms well.
Next, check out Romanticism to see how artists used emotion and drama in their work.
Overview
Infanterie Turque, Chasseurs is a lithograph created by Auguste Raffet in 1837. It is a print depicting a group of soldiers, and is currently held in the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The print shows six Turkish infantrymen standing in a line, wearing matching uniforms with fur-trimmed hats and long coats. One soldier holds a rifle, while the others stand at attention. The simple background emphasizes the figures, capturing their uniforms and postures.
Technique & Style
The lithograph is characterized by loose, expressive lines, suggesting a quick sketch. Despite the rapid execution, the uniforms and details are well-captured, reflecting Raffet's skill as an illustrator and lithographer.
History & Provenance
Raffet, trained under Nicolas Toussaint Charlet, was known for his military subjects and retrospective paintings of the Empire period. Infanterie Turque, Chasseurs dates to 1837, the same year indicated on the print as the time of its creation in Constantinople.
Artist & collection
Artist
Denis Auguste Marie Raffet (2 March 1804 – 16 February 1860) was a French illustrator and lithographer. He was a student of Nicolas Toussaint Charlet, and was a retrospective painter of the Empire.
