Following in the footsteps of François Gérard and Horace Vernet, Detaille perpetuated the tradition of French military painting at a time when the genre was beginning to decline. His approach was characterized by a faithful representation of reality, seeking to capture the essential elements of each scene depicted.
His fame was established primarily through his works devoted to the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. These canvases, sometimes tragic and crudely realistic, highlight the heroic actions of French soldiers in a context of national defeat. This documentary and patriotic approach met the expectations of a French society devastated by defeat and the loss of Alsace-Lorraine.
His masterpiece "The Dream," created in 1888, perfectly illustrates his artistic approach. This work exalts past military glories in a tense political context between France and Germany, testifying to his ability to transform art into a vector of national memory and reconciliation with French military history.
His fame extends far beyond his time, making him an iconic figure who has had a lasting influence on the depiction of military conflict. Living primarily between Paris and Ville-d'Avray, he developed a considerable body of work that accurately documented the evolution of military uniforms and tactics.
The preservation of his studio collection at the Musée de l'Armée since 1915 is a testament to the institutional recognition of his work. This preservation now allows us to appreciate not only his completed works but also his preparatory studies, revealing the rigorous method of an artist concerned with historical authenticity and documentary truth.
