Austerlitz Trophies

[John Alberts]

Good stuff!

[marko]

Rapp's memoirs talk about presenting some banners and that Gerard's painting was loosely based on the event.  Here is nice explanation of the painting - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Austerlitz,_2_December_1805_(G%C3%A9rard)  I think it is essentially propaganda very, loosely based on a number of facts - capturing a banner was a nice way to secure promotion and usually a reward among other things. 


I have not seen anything that actually mentions such an event.  Still it does make for some stirring flats, the flags of which are very well documented so why not.


mark


P.S. The Segom set showing the presentation of flags after Ligny/Quatre Bas is another event that never happened but, it is a clever presentation and looks like a very nice set.

[Ed Humphreys]

Yes, the figure of Prince Andrei is based on "War and Peace", which does not actually describe him tugging at a standard being taken by a French grenadier. "Voila une belle mort" This should not be included in the scene, whether or not it actually happened. I am still trying to find the actual truth behind it. I must say that Bondarchuk's film is one of my absolute favourites..
Thanks for your suggestion.


Ed

[tinman]

Ed:


The Segom series (no. 50) is based upon a scene from Tolstoy's "War and Peace," wherein Napoleon discovers the fictional Russian Prince Andrei Bolkonsky on the Austerlitz battlefield.


The SIMA series, which has General Rapp, was edited in 1938 by Paul Armont/Fernand Gravey, and it is based upon a painting done in 1810 by Francois Gerard which is currently in the collection of the Versailles Palace. (I attach a copy.)


Unfortunately, I cannot say whether Rapp's depiction in Gerard's painting is accurate.

[Ed Humphreys]

Thank you, Richard. While SEGOM produced a set of the trophies of Waterloo, another disputed event, they did also  produce the trophies of Austerlitz. I have both sets.
ED

[Richard]

 Hello Ed,
The SEGOM series represents the french trophies of Waterloo and not those of Austerlitz.
Richard

[Ed Humphreys]

I am working on the SEGOM set of the trophies of Austerlitz being presented to Napoleon, and hope to put them into a boxed diorama. SEGOM released the set with a very useful guide and a colour illustration, and there have been discussions about the actual colours taken in various publications, including our own Journal. General Andolenko is often quoted as a reliable source.
I do however have one question. Did the event depicted in the set (and the earlier Scholtz one) actually take place? I can find no reference to it happening in my library. The earlier set has General Rapp, with his head wound and broken sabre, presenting the colours to Napoleon, and in my copy of his memoir, Rapp describes meeting the Emperor after the battle, but makes no mention of the event depicted in two sets of flats. If it did happen, was it immediately after the battle, or the following day? Would it have been at Napoleon's headquarters, or elsewhere on the field? Rapp does not feature in the SEGOM set, which has Napoleon accompanied by Junot in an impressive hussar uniform
Does anyone have any definite evidence it actually happened? Even if it didn't, it is too good a set to let the historical truth stand in the way of a colourful diorama. I would be grateful for any information or suggestions. Any answer quoting Ridley Scott would NOT be welcome.
Many thanks,
Ed H