Del Prado Hussar Officer, 1805: Reading Kellermann’s Name on the Label

Del Prado · France · 1805

A red jacket stands out sharply above a pale grey horse. This Del Prado hussar officer is identified through Kellermann’s command, a useful connection that also requires care with a famous family name.

The rider’s raised hand, dark fur headgear and red clothing create a compact block of colour. The grey horse gives those details a clear background. Seen from the side, the figure has a more measured rhythm than the charging Lefebvre-Desnouettes sculpt, making the two useful partners in a study of officers.

Which Kellermann?

François Étienne de Kellermann was the cavalry general active in Napoleon’s campaigns, including Austerlitz in 1805. His father, François Christophe Kellermann, was the older commander associated with Valmy and a marshal of the Empire. The shared surname can turn a short dealer label into a misleading biography if the distinction is missed.

This figure represents a hussar officer connected with Kellermann’s command, not a named portrait of either man. The listing’s wording should therefore be treated as a formation reference. The broader Del Prado identification index associates the subject with the 4th Hussars. That is useful supporting evidence, while the dealer’s shorter description leaves the number out.

Colour and condition

The red coat gives this model its immediate appeal, but the darker areas around the saddle and headgear carry important identifying details. Compare those areas with the reference photograph before accepting a similar-looking loose hussar as a match.

The horse’s ears, the officer’s raised hand and the plume deserve close photographs. Check the grey paint across the flanks and legs for chips or mismatched retouching. A pale mount can make repairs conspicuous, although strong lighting sometimes hides differences in paint sheen.

In a display, use this officer to create a pause between more active figures. His contained pose lets the viewer read the uniform and then follow the eye towards neighbouring troopers. Keep the full command description on the label: that short line preserves both the historical connection and the limits of the identification.

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