The Battle of Montmirail

This painting depicts one of Napoleon's last successes in France, when he defeated the Russian General Sacken on 11 February 1814 at Montmirail, near Paris.

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 Hanau' and 'The Battle of Valmy'. They were damaged in 1848 but restored under the artist's supervision.