Late 19th Century French Oil Painting of an Infantry Soldier, Antique French Oil Painting Unframed

4.75" W x 8.375" H

Oil on board

Signed, bottom right corner

A striking late 19th-century French oil painting on board, this piece captures a quiet yet evocative military scene featuring a French infantry soldier in a dimly lit, arched passageway. The uniform suggests he belongs to the Horizon Blue HSC Infantry, a unit serving during France’s colonial expansion, possibly stationed in North Africa or a military outpost. The architectural elements; stone archways, weathered facades, and scattered crates, lend an atmospheric depth to the scene, suggesting a moment of routine or quiet vigilance rather than battlefield action. The composition reflects the Academic art tradition, favoring precision, realism, and historical authenticity, much like the works of Alphonse de Neuville or Edouard Detaille, both renowned for their military subjects. The subdued yet intricate brushwork, combined with the historical subject matter, makes this a compelling acquisition for collectors of military art, 19th-century French paintings, or those drawn to evocative narrative scenes of France’s colonial era.

Condition:

The painting is in very good antique condition, with the oil on board surface remaining stable and the original brushwork well-preserved.