Kosel- Siege 1807

[Kein Prinz]

Guten Tag
Following a lead from comments by HKW last year on Bavarian uniforms, I looked again and at the Kobell painting of the Siege of Kosel prosecuted during 1807.
As I did not find any further information about this and other paintings subsequently commissioned by the king or crown prince.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Belagerung_von_Kosel

This is an extremely brief review and depending upon which translator I used, came up with varying results as to dates in particular.

Nor have I found any of the other commissioned Kobells on the https://napoleon-online.de/ site.

thanks, davew

[Prince of Essling]

https://image.invaluable.com/housePhotos/Bassenge/74/754874/H0223-L346132352_original.jpg

"Representation of the Königl. Bavarian troops. Tableau des Troupes Bavaroises". Coloured copper engraving. 34.5 x 47 cm. O. O., o. V., o. J. (c. 1820). -- A brigadier of the Royal Bavarian Army, just arrived at a rest. In the foreground, two men of higher rank, with shako and a guard dog, sitting on the meadow in the shade. To their left is the roadside with riders and a wagon on which only a cannon lies. In the background, mountains and other soldiers, whose uniforms are painted in bright red and blue and the gold settings on their dark caterpillar helmets stand out."

The "Darstellung der Königl. Bayrischen Truppen. Tableau des Troupes Bavaroises" is a significant piece of military art that captures the essence of Bavarian soldiers in action. This hand-colored engraving, created after the work of Wilhelm Kobell, depicts a large group of soldiers outdoors, with a vivandière talking to a soldier in the background. The engraving is part of the Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection at Brown University Library, which is open for research. The piece is housed in a large folio, matted, with intact margins, and is clean. It was sold at the Paris Grangié sale in 1963.

The above picture is from the Bassenge Auctions Berlin, Germany October 10, 2023

[Prince of Essling]

Some other paintings by Kobell

Conquest of the Fortress of Brieg https://galleryofthemasters.com/main%20images/k/kobel%20Conquest%20of%20the%20Fortress%20of%20Brie g.jpg
The Cavalry Battle of Hanau https://galleryofthemasters.com/main...of%20Hanau.jpg
Battle of Hanau https://galleryofthemasters.com/main...of%20Hanau.jpg
Battle of Bar-sur-Aube https://res.cloudinary.com/tne/image...Y-SA_BSTGS.jpg
Die Einnahme von München durch bayerisch-französische Truppen (Berthier-Zyklus), 1806 https://res.cloudinary.com/tne/image...Y-SA_BSTGS.jpg
Angriff der Russen bei Poplawi (Schlachtenzyklus), 1809 https://res.cloudinary.com/tne/image...Y-SA_BSTGS.jpg

Other holdings by the Neue Pinakothek in Munich can be seen at Sammlung | Wilhelm von Kobell
Also see My Open Museum at Wilhelm von Kobell (1766 - 1853) | German Painter | Biography, Works & Museums

Useful background on Kobell at Wilhelm von Kobell: A Master of German Landscape and Genre - NiceArtGallery.com
In particular:

" The Art of Battle Painting

Kobell's battle paintings represent another significant aspect of his career. Commissioned to document the military exploits of the Bavarian army during the Napoleonic Wars, these works required a different set of skills: the ability to organize large numbers of figures, to convey the drama and chaos of combat, and to maintain a degree of historical accuracy. His most famous work in this genre is arguably "The Siege of Cosel" (completed around 1808), which depicts an event from the War of the Polish Succession but showcases the style he would employ for Napoleonic scenes.

In these compositions, Kobell again drew upon 17th-century Dutch precedents, particularly the battle scenes of Philips Wouwerman. Like Wouwerman, Kobell often focused on cavalry engagements, skillfully rendering horses in dynamic poses. However, Kobell's battle scenes tend to be less overtly heroic or propagandistic than those of some of his French contemporaries, such as Antoine-Jean Gros, who painted grand, dramatic portrayals of Napoleon's victories. Kobell's approach was often more measured, with a greater emphasis on the clarity of the overall scene and the accurate depiction of uniforms and terrain.

He managed to combine a panoramic overview of the battlefield with carefully observed details in the foreground. While the scale of these works was often impressive, they retained his characteristic precision. The landscapes in which these battles unfold are rendered with the same care as his pure landscape paintings, providing a realistic setting for the military action. These works served not only as historical records but also as symbols of Bavarian military prowess and national identity during a tumultuous period."

[Kein Prinz]

Danke Herren Prinz