The Death of General Colbert
Victor Schnetz (French, 1787–1870)
c. 1809/1810
Medium
oil on fabric
Dimensions
50 × 61 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Modern European Painting and Sculpture
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Bequest of Noah L. Butkin
Accession Number
1980.285
Tags
male
About this artwork
In 1809, the popular young French military hero General Auguste Colbert died at a battle in Spain. The following year, Schnetz depicted the moment of Colbert's death. This is the study for a much larger painting exhibited at the Paris Salon, but now lost. The exploits of Napoleon and his army were popular subjects for French artists whose work was shown in official exhibitions.