'Souvenirs des grandes manœuvres' (1879) by Detaille

Explore “Souvenirs des Grandes Manœuvres” (1879), a striking 19th-century oil painting by French academic artist Jean Baptiste Édouard Detaille. Known for his precise and patriotic depictions of military life, Detaille captures the discipline and spirit of the French army in this detailed canvas.

In this Art Minutes feature with Kerry Elkins, Museum Specialist at the Appleton Museum of Art, discover the historical and artistic context behind this powerful work. A gift from Arthur I. Appleton, the painting stands as a tribute to France’s military heritage and Detaille’s unmatched eye for realism and emotion.