Napoleonic armies went into battle dressed in resplendent, brilliant uniforms. None were grander than those worn by Napoleon's own soldiers, and the troops of imperial France dazzled Europe with their elegant colorful turnout. In 1812 Napoleon was at the height of his power, and the uniform regulations issued in that year reflect the empire's power and prestige. Carle Vernet, a leading French military artist, was commissioned to paint the uniform regulations so they could be published and circulated to military tailors. His paintings both reflect the brilliant elegance of the time and show the uniforms that were to be adopted in detail. Uniforms of Napoleon's Army has selected the best of Vernet's elegant images and covers the range of French Army units: heavy cavalry, light cavalry, line infantry, light infantry, artillery, engineers, and support troops. An introduction charts the evolution of French military uniforms, examines the 1812 regulation in detail, and places the images in context. Published for the first time in an accessible format, these brilliant images offer a unique insight into the military tailor during the Napoleonic period.
