A Commissioned and a Non-Commissioned Cavalry Officer
1825â1850
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1931-72-19
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Victor Adam's drawing captures a striking contrast between a commissioned officer and his non-commissioned counterpart in the French cavalry. Created between 1825 and 1850, the work highlights the subtle distinctions in uniform, bearing, and authority that defined military hierarchy during the turbulent decades following the Napoleonic Wars. As a French artist active in this period, Adam often turned his attention to equestrian and military subjects, reflecting the era's ongoing fascination with the army's role in national identity. Though the medium remains unspecified, its classification as...