The Battle of Hanau

The Campaign of Leipzig forced Napoleon to retire to the west of the Rhine, in the course of which the French defeated a force of Germans at Hanau, near Frankfurt, on 30 October 1813.

This is one of four battle scenes painted by Vernet for the duc d'Orléans (later King Louis-Philippe) depicting French successes in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. The other three are 'The Battle of Jemappes', 'The Battle of Montmirail' and 'The Battle of Valmy'. They were damaged in 1848 but restored under the artist's supervision.