Bilder Robert Bénard (1734–1777) – Art Militaire – Exercice – Hand-Coloured Engraving (18th Century)

Beskrivning

This finely executed hand-coloured engraving by Robert Bénard illustrates ten consecutive positions of a soldier performing formal musket drill, titled Art Militaire – Exercice. The figures are meticulously numbered and display the prescribed stances for loading, shouldering, and presenting arms, typical of 18th-century European infantry training. Each soldier is shown in a tricorne hat, blue regimental coat, and yellow-red breeches, with remarkable attention to uniform detail and posture. The composition is framed with a fine red border and inscribed below, likely produced as part of an encyclopedic or instructional series on military science.

Robert Bénard was a French engraver best known for his contributions to Diderot and d’Alembert’s Encyclopédie, where he produced a vast number of technical and scientific plates. His precision and clarity made him one of the most reliable illustrators of Enlightenment knowledge. In works such as this, Bénard combined the exactitude of draftsmanship with an elegant sense of proportion and composition.

Artist or Maker:
Robert Bénard

Dimensions:
33 cm x 21 cm

Medium:
Hand-Coloured Copperplate Engraving

Date:
18th Century

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.