Portret van Aimable Jean Jacques Pélissier - Jacques-Julien Dubochet

A detailed wood engraving of the French Marshal Aimable Jean Jacques Pélissier, framed by decorative oak leaves and military iconography.

This wood engraving depicts Aimable Jean Jacques Pélissier, a French military officer who rose to prominence during the Crimean War. The portrait is presented in profile, a traditional format for military figures, which emphasises the subject's stoic expression and formal uniform. The engraving is based on an original drawing by Horace Vernet, a painter known for his depictions of military history and contemporary conflicts.

The composition is framed by an elaborate decorative border consisting of oak leaves and a ribbon bearing the name Sebastopol, a reference to the siege that defined Pélissier's career. At the base, a baton rests among the foliage, further signifying his rank and authority. The linework is precise, characteristic of mid-nineteenth-century printmaking techniques intended for publication in illustrated journals or historical records. The shading around the figure provides a sense of volume, while the surrounding elements remain lighter to draw focus to the central profile.

Jacques-Julien Dubochet, a Swiss engraver and publisher, produced this work during a period when the public appetite for news from the front lines was high. The print captures the formal aesthetic of the era, balancing the rigid requirements of military portraiture with the decorative sensibilities of the time. It serves as a record of the visual culture surrounding the Crimean War, documenting how military leaders were represented to the public. The inclusion of the baton and the specific reference to the siege of Sebastopol situates the subject within a specific historical context, reflecting the military achievements associated with his name during the mid-1850s.