Portrait of a captain of the Légion de Mirabeau, of the Armée de Condé, circa 1792-1793, French Revolution.

Oil on canvas. Portrait of a Captain in black uniform with collar, lapel, facing and their flaps, piping and sky blue lining, silver button and stripes. Golden epaulettes with silver lining and fringes. Black cloth waistcoat with silver buttons and braid. Sky blue pants with silver braid. Fawn leather gloves. White leather sword belt with gilded bronze rectangular plate stamped with the fleur de lys and the initials « LM » (Légion de Mirabeau). The captain wears the white silk, fleur-de-lys armband of the Armée de Condé on his right arm. He is holding a sabre with a steel guard. It is decorated with the Saint-Louis cross. Helmet à la « Rumford » with leather skull with gilded brass headband and comb stamped with the French coat of arms and a lion’s head, mane and plume in white hairs. Height : 62 cm; width : 47.50 cm. Presented in a more modern gilded wooden frame.

Very good condition.

In 1791, the Prince de Condé, cousin of the king, formed a small army which started organizing itself with the numerous officers who were then emigrating and leaving France. It was well organized and professional, and yet it was not used in 1792. The troops of Condé wore an armband on their left arm with three black fleurs de lys as a symbol of mourning for Louis XVI. They became seasoned troops and were respected by their Republican enemies. The general colonel who led the Légion de Mirabeau was Viscount de Mirabeau.