Wednesday 12 September 2012

Interesting portrait

Unfortunately the wiki page doesn't really have much to say about this 18th century image. What do you say? French?

5 comments:

Rampjaar said...

Wiki gives "File:Bildnis eines Piqueurs deutsch 18 Jhr", so...it's a german painting of probably a german officer, 18th century. The painting was sold through Auctionhouse Van Ham in Cologne, Germany, so if you really have a lot of time you can dig through their auctions and catalogues to find out more.

Steve-the-Wargamer said...

Although he looks martial... a Piqueur is defined in Google as possibly being a hunting term - they wore uniform - apparently they were some kind of lead huntsman... it's also a French term.....

Rampjaar said...

I think it's an officer (collar and half pike). French was the Lingua Franca of the elite in Europe, so it's not that strange it pops up in Germany. Also piqueur can mean machinist and a lot of other thimngs as well.

Uwe said...

Very simple, just take a look at his cocard. White was the Bourbonic French colour.


The gorgete shows he is an officer

cheers
uwe

Steve-the-Wargamer said...

Could he be a doctor/medical man?? Hence the nickname.... or is he a horse doctor - a veterinarian....

See also here:

http://www.heritage-images.com/Preview/PreviewPage.aspx?id=1526602&pricing=true&licenseType=RM