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Hôtel des Ventes du Bassin d’Arcachon
253
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French school from the first half of the 19th century. Dog M…
See original version (French)
253
-
French school from the first half of the 19th century. Dog M…
See original version (French)
Estimate €600 - €800
Voluntary lot
Description
French school from the first half of the 19th century. Dog Moustache at the Battle of Austerlitz. Oil on canvas. 55 x 66 cm. Restorations and small accidents. Gilded wood and stucco frame decorated with palmettes and scrolls.
Moustache, sometimes nicknamed Mous, was probably born in September 1799 and died at the siege of Badajoz in Spain on 11 March 1811. He was a French dog soldier who served with the 40th Infantry Regiment for ten years during the Revolutionary and Empire Wars.
During the Battle of Austerlitz, the unit was attached to the 2nd Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division of General Jean Lannes' 5th Corps, whose mission was to defend the road to Olmütz and cut off the right wing of the Austro-Russian troops. At the height of the melee during a bayonet charge by the 34th and 40th Infantry Regiments, he spotted the standard-bearer of his regiment grappling with a detachment of the enemy. He flew to his rescue, barked, encouraged his master and did what he could to frighten the Austrians. But his efforts were in vain. The mortally wounded standard-bearer fell after putting 3 of the enemy out of action. But 6 others remained and tried to seize the flag. Moustache, who had thrown himself on the body of his comrade, was defending his banner when a burst of machine-gun fire swept through the enemy. Moustache lost a leg. Despite his wound, he grabbed the flagstaff in his mouth and pulling with all his might, managed to free the bloody shreds of the banner and carried it back towards the French lines. Following this fine action, General Lannes ordered that a red ribbon with a small copper medal be placed around his neck, bearing the following inscription: On the first side: "Lost a leg at the battle of Austerlitz, and saved the flag of his regiment". On the other side: "Moustache, French dog: may he be respected and cherished everywhere as a brave man".
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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