Raphael Nannini (Italian, 1870–1895)
French Napoleonic Cavalry Officer
Gilt 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 grounds the piece, giving it monumentality and contrast.
Signed “A. Nannini,” this bronze belongs to a celebrated tradition of Italian and French sculpture that fused historical subject matter with Romantic bravura, appealing to collectors of both military history and fine art.
