André Claude Martin Lefèvre d'Orgeval

Officer in Front of Campaign Tent

In 1754, two years before the outbreak of the Seven Years' War, this unknown general had been portrayed in front of a campaign tent. ¹ Yet the armed conflict depicted in this scene, could not be identified. The sitter wears a white sash around his body and - as an expression of his power - a leopard's skin over his armour. In his right hand he holds the general's staff. The action of the background to the right is rendered with great precision: in the distance, on the far side of a river a fortified town with a windmill is recognisable. Clouds of smoke over the roofs suggest a bombardment. On this side of the river, behind bushes, some soldiers point their gun barrels towards the town. A barricade, erected in a zigzag line guards them against the enemy. Crossing the river is a probably makeshift wooden footbridge, presumably built with the intention of conquering the town.

The Frenchman Le Fèvre d'Orgeval had been working as an active miniaturist around the middle of the 18th century. He is one of the few French rococo miniaturists, of whom signed works are known. These are always very meticulously drawn, are rich in detail and executed in fresh colours. He quite often painted the sitters' hands in his miniatures as well and added accessories, alluding to their preferences or activities. His great skill in reproducing the smallest detail allowed him to combine even several models in the same locket. ²

B.P.

¹ Identifying this gentleman is all the more difficult for his not wearing any decorations of merit.Therefore he could not have attained a very high military rank. We are very grateful to Mr.Jean-Jacques Petit for his research as to the sitter.

² Cf. for example the tiny miniature of 4,2 x 5,9 cm in the David-Weill Collection (Jeannerat 1957, pp. 220-221), showing three ladies with their musical instruments and music sheets.