Del Prado 4th Cavalry, 1796: Before the Imperial Cuirassier Image

Del Prado · French Republic · 1796

The dark coat, broad hat and red facings belong to a French cavalryman of the Revolutionary period. Del Prado’s 1796 trooper offers a useful starting point before the familiar helmets and armour of the Empire.

The rider’s white crossbelts make a clear pattern across the dark torso. A red accent at the front of the uniform repeats the colour of the saddle covering, tying the figure to the chestnut horse. The broad headgear is a major identification clue; it should not be overlooked in favour of the more obvious coat colour.

The Republic’s army

The date 1796 predates Napoleon’s proclamation as emperor by eight years. France was fighting the Revolutionary wars, and cavalry organisation and dress had not yet reached the forms most familiar from later Napoleonic collections. Calling every French mounted figure an imperial cuirassier loses that earlier setting.

The reference identifies the 4th Cavalry. That designation is worth retaining exactly rather than replacing it with a later title from a regimental lineage. Units could continue through reorganisations while their names, clothing and equipment changed.

A compact identification study

The comparatively restrained pose makes the belts, coat front and saddle arrangement easier to inspect. The horse is active enough to give the figure life without pulling attention away from the rider. That balance suits a display intended to explain uniforms.

On a loose example, examine the hat brim and plume, the reins and the horse’s ears. Small losses around dark areas can disappear in a compressed sales photograph. Pale straps are useful places to check for rubbing or repainting because raised edges catch both handling and light.

Ask for an underside view and confirm the rider’s fit. A generic French cavalry description can cover several quite different Del Prado subjects. The correct combination of headgear, saddle covering, pose and equipment is more dependable than a colour match alone.

Display the trooper beside the 1800 carabinier already in the catalog. The close dates and different cavalry identities offer a manageable comparison, particularly for collectors accustomed to starting the story with Austerlitz or Waterloo.

Browse the Del Prado Figure Catalog →