World History and Culture: Exhibition "The Cossacks in Paris in 1814 through the eyes of the French artists" in Moscow

September 14, 2016 at the Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 (Moscow) is opened the exhibition "Cossacks in Paris in 1814 through the eyes of French artists" which presents the graphic works of contemporaries-eyewitnesses, created during the period of Russian troops in Paris, as well as awards and items weapons and life beginning of the XIX century, the Cossacks. The exhibition will run until December 2016.

Foreign campaigns of the Russian army, completed the final "defeat of the enemy on their own fields", were brilliant milestone for irregular armies. According to the famous General A. P. Yermolov, the Cossacks were "surprise to Europe". Popularity among the population of the different countries they won thanks to an exotic sight, unconventional behavior in combat and at home, as well as numerous stylized images, widely publicized by political allies broadside editions.

Colorful images of Cossacks attracted the attention of many French artists who worked then in Paris. The authorship of many pictures is difficult to establish, there were only mention of the publishing houses in Paris, where the French artists and engravers were working (B. Chéreau, A. Martin, Jeanti, Vallardi). In their works, many curious domestic sketches of 1814 were captured; their images give a very complete picture of this heroic page in the history of Russia and recreate the picture shaped the victorious completion of the epic Napoleonic Wars in Paris, transmit quite unusual atmosphere reigned in the city. Observing vividness, nature sketches with attention to detail and transmission parts, some plaque irony, softened kind smile - all this gives to the drawings of French artists with nothing incomparable charm.