French Napoleonic Cavalry Officer by Raphael Nannini

Raphael Nannini (Italian, 1870–1895)French Napoleonic Cavalry OfficerGilt bronze on marble base, 23 × 19 × 8 in. This dynamic gilt bronze by Italian sculptor Raphael Nannini depicts a French Napoleonic cavalry officer at full charge, his horse leaping forward with explosive energy. The rider wears the plumed helmet typical of French light cavalry regiments such as the Chasseurs à Cheval and Hussars, complete with visor, chin strap, and tall crest, its horsehair plume flowing dramatically behind. Cloaked in a billowing cape and leaning low over his mount, he embodies the speed, daring, and martial élan associated with Napoleon’s armies. Nannini’s work reflects the 19th-century fascination with the Napoleonic Wars, which inspired artists across Europe to memorialize the heroism and pageantry of the French cavalry. Cast with fine detail and finished in a warm gilded patina, the sculpture captures both the controlled strength of the horse and the intensity of its rider. The marble base gro