Charakteristische Darstellung der vorzüglichsten europäischen Militairs

Characteristic representation of the principal European military men

or

Augsburger Bilder

1802-1810

Austrian
Baden
Bavarian
Danish
French
Great_Britain
Holland
Minor_States
Ottoman
Prussian
Russian
Saxon
Spanish
Swedish
Wurtemberg

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Between 1802 and 1809/10, the “Academischen Buchhandlung” [Academic Bookstore], later “Herzberg’sche Buchhandlung” [Herzberg’s Bookstore], published a printed series of uniform illustrations in Augsburg. This series represents one of the most important sources for any researcher interested in uniforms and the history of the Napoleonic army. The series was drawn and engraved by artists such as Ebner, Rugendas, Seele, and Volz, who are known for their meticulous and authentic depictions of uniforms.

The so-called “Augsburger Uniform- oder Bilderserie” [Augsburg Uniform or Picture Series] was intended as a compendium for the depiction of all armies of its time, as the title “Charackteristische Darstellung der vorzüglichsten Europäischen Militairs” [Characteristic Depiction of the Most Distinguished European Militaries] suggests. Nearly every nation of the era was represented by at least one sheet; typically, there were five sheets per nation, including two each for infantry and cavalry (often further divided into light and heavy troops), and one for artillery. France stands out with a total of 10 plates – the editors took the changes in uniforms that accompanied the reform of the French army as an opportunity to present both the Revolutionary and Imperial troops, each with 5 plates. Saxony is represented with a total of 9 plates, as the editors also wanted to depict the troops of the 1810 reorganization.

Given its compendium-like structure, it can be assumed that the illustrators rarely had the opportunity to personally observe the depicted types. Therefore, other contemporary series of illustrations were likely used as models – this will be verified at a later date in a critical analysis of the “Augsburger Bilderserie” [Augsburg series of illustrations].
uniformenportal