Del Prado · Napoleonic era · Prussian command
Del Prado’s standing Blücher gives the Napoleonic collection a Prussian commander without the size of a mounted portrait. The dark uniform, pale trousers and red-lined garment create a distinctive figure whose identity is more important than an uncertain date in a retailer title.
- Maker
- Del Prado
- Subject
- General Blücher
- Historical setting
- Napoleonic era · Prussian command
The commander beyond the Waterloo shorthand
Blücher commanded the Prussian army in the 1815 campaign and is closely associated with its contribution at Waterloo. The Netherlands’ National Military Museum portrait record identifies that role. A standing miniature offers a useful way to include the Prussian command in a collection often dominated by Wellington and Napoleon.
The portrait works without a large scene
Place him where the face, coat and arm position remain visible. A simple label explaining the Prussian contribution can make the model more informative than surrounding it with unrelated French or British soldiers. A comparison with another commander is useful, provided the figures are presented as portraits rather than an invented meeting.
Inspect the small portrait details
Look closely at the face, hands, garment edges and any thin carried equipment. Dark clothing can hide chips, while pale trousers can be washed out by bright lighting. Ask for the base inscription and keep a photograph of it. A famous name is easy for sellers to repeat; the sculpt and its identifying marks are what confirm the actual piece.
Figure reference
Del Prado General Blücher — Planète Légendaire catalog record. The collecting observations above refer to the pictured model; condition varies between individual examples.