Artwork
The Duke of Angoulême in the Battle of Trocadero
The Duke of Angoulême in the Battle of Trocadero is an oil painting by Paul Delaroche. It dates from 1828 and is held in the collection of the Palace of Versailles.
About this work
Overview
Paul Delaroche’s 1828 oil on canvas, titled *The Duke of Angoulême at the Taking of Trocadero*, merges portraiture with historical narrative. It portrays Louis‑Antoine, Duke of Angoulême, as he directs French forces during the August 31, 1823 assault on the fort of Trocadero, a decisive episode in the French intervention in Spain.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, the Duke, is shown in a black uniform with gold‑trimmed epaulettes, a red‑lined cape, and a feathered hat, sword raised in his right hand and left hand on his hip, embodying the confidence of a commander. The composition underscores his role as the youthful heir who led the Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis to restore Ferdinand VII to the Spanish throne.
Technique & Style
Delaroche employs a dramatic chiaroscuro, contrasting the illuminated Duke against a pink‑tinged sky and the shadowed, wounded soldiers behind him. The brushwork balances meticulous detail in the uniform and weaponry with looser treatment of the battlefield’s chaos, creating a sense of immediacy while maintaining a formal, almost portrait‑like focus on the protagonist.
History & Provenance
Originally commissioned by the French government, the work replaced an earlier assignment given to Antoine‑Jean Gros. Completed while the Duke held the title of Dauphin, it was first shown at the Paris Salon of 1827, reflecting official endorsement of the French victory and the Bourbon restoration agenda.
Context
The painting commemorates the French campaign that intervened in Spain to support the absolutist monarch Ferdinand VII against a liberal government. After the capture of Trocadero, the remaining insurgents in Cádiz capitulated, allowing the Duke to present the restored king to his father, Charles X, reinforcing the legitimacy of the Bourbon line in both France and Spain.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hippolyte-Paul Delaroche (French pronunciation: ; 17 July 1797 – 4 November 1856) was a French painter known for his depiction of scenes from English and French history.
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