Charles Deblois, “The Retreat from Russia”, 1868, after John Gilbert

Charles Deblois (aka Charles Alphonse Deblois) (1822–c.1883)

“The Retreat from Russia” (aka “La Retraite de Russie”; “Russia’s Retreat”; “A Troop of Dragoons in a Storm”), 1868, after a painting by John Gilbert (aka Sir John Gilbert) (1817–1897), printed by Auguste Delâtre (1822–1907), published (based on advice from the seller from whom I purchased this print) in the art periodical, “L'Artiste”.

Note that George Pike Nicholls (fl.1841-1887) executed the wood-engraving, “A Troop of Dragoons in a Storm”, that is also after Gilbert’s painting; see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1895-0617-769 (BM inv. 1895,0617.769).

Etching on wove paper trimmed with a small margin around the plate-mark and backed with a support sheet providing wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 17.6 x 22.3cm; (plate) 15.2 x 20.1cm; (image borderline) 11.2 x 16.1cm.

Inscribed in plate below the image borderline: (left) “John Gilbert juin 1868”; (right) Ch Deblois. [f?]ils s.c./ Imp Dela[t]re”.

Not described by IFF or Beraldi, nevertheless, the Museum of Art and History offers a description of this print: https://www.mahmah.ch/collection/oeuvres/la-retraite-de-la-russie/e-2020-1244.

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed (near faultless) impression with small margins in a near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds or abrasions and laid onto a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins.

I am selling this small dark nugget of an etching showing Napoleon’s retreating troops from Moscow in what must have been dreadful blizzard-like conditions during winter, for AU $206 in total (currently US $126.69/ EUR 123.63/ GBP 103.76 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU $206) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in visually arresting image, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Note that I have listed a curiously interesting lithograph also depicting Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow, “Les Funérailles”, c.1898, by Adolphe Willette that is currently still available: https://www.printsandprinciples.com/2024/01/adolphe-willettes-lithograph-les.html?m=0.