Emmanuel Frémiet (1824-1910) is particularly known for his equestrian groups. Some time around 1853 he received a commission in person from Napoleon III, for 50 statuettes to depict Figures from the Army of the Second Empire (ultimately there were seventy-two). These groups were acclaimed at the time for their very accurate renderings of character and costume. -The bronze in this lot is probably cast after one of those (no longer extant) equestrian groups.