L’Armée française

work by Detaille and Neuville

Also known as: “The French Army”

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June 18, 2026

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L'Armée française (The French Army) is a two-volume, illustrated work created by French painters Édouard Detaille and Alphonse de Neuville in 1883. Detaille, known for his accurate depictions of battles and military life, collaborated with Neuville to produce this work, which served as an important source for understanding late-19th-century military history due to its detailed portrayal of the French army. Detaille's paintings, particularly those of the Franco-German War, brought him fame.1

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Édouard Detaille
…a profusely illustrated two-volume work, The French Army. His paintings of the Franco-German War (e.g., The Defense of Champigny, 1879) made him famous. His most characteristic works, however, infused with legend and sentiment, are his pictures of Napoleon I and his armies. Detaille also painted some portraits and nonmilitary subjects…
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…a profusely illustrated two-volume work, The French Army. His paintings of the Franco-German War (e.g., The Defense of Champigny, 1879) made him famous. His most characteristic works, however, infused with legend and sentiment, are his pictures of Napoleon I and his armies. Detaille also painted some portraits and nonmilitary subjects…
Read More