Del Prado Italian 2nd Chasseur, 1812: The Army Behind the Green Coat

Del Prado · Kingdom of Italy · 1812

The rider sits upright while his chestnut horse lowers its head. Green clothing, white straps and a tall plume make this a quiet, readable Del Prado cavalry subject from Napoleon’s Kingdom of Italy.

The pose draws attention away from a charge and towards the relationship between rider and mount. The lowered muzzle gives the horse an individual character, while the soldier’s straight back holds the composition together. Red accents break up the green uniform without overwhelming it. The large saddle covering is another useful feature when comparing a loose model with a reference photograph.

An Italian regiment in Napoleon’s military world

The Kingdom of Italy maintained its own army within Napoleon’s system of allied and dependent states. Its mounted chasseurs belonged to that Italian establishment; a French-looking cut of uniform does not turn the subject into a French regiment. The 2nd Chasseurs served through the campaigns of the Napoleonic period, and the regiment’s history continued into the fighting in Germany in 1813 before the kingdom collapsed in 1814.

For a collector, the national label matters as much as the green coat. It opens a shelf dominated by French and British figures to the wider armies that supplied Napoleon with men and horses. An 1812 date sets the model within that system, but cannot by itself identify a particular battlefield or march.

Details to compare

Check the plume, reins and lowered head in photographs of a secondhand example. The angle of the head is integral to this sculpt; a different horse can create a convincing-looking but mismatched pairing. Ask for a view of the saddle connection and underside before relying on a seller’s general “Napoleonic cavalry” description.

This figure works particularly well beside a French line chasseur. Similar roles and related clothing provide the comparison, while clear labels preserve the distinction between two military establishments. Leave space in front of the horse so that the lowered head remains visible.

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