Early military painting "Napoleon by reconnaissance before the battle of Vienna" was created by the artist soon after the end of Napoleonic war and depicts a military scene: Napoleon at the reconnaissance before the battle, among other figures, accompanying emperor at this action, you can see clearly on background Roustam Raza, Mameluke and personal bodyguard of Napoleon, in the far background is seen the tall spire of a cathedral, the outlines of which are identical to the St. Stephen Cathedral   in Vienna. Therefore, we can assume that the author portrayed the preparation for one of the important battles of Vienna in 1809 (Aspern or Wagram).

The author of this rare historical military painting Dietrich Monten (1799 Duesseldorf - 1843 Munich) was renowned German historical, battle and genre painter , pupil of the Academy in Duesseldorf (since 18219) and Munich (by Peter Hess). Monten is known among other things for his versatility, both in technique and subject matter. So he made in Pappenheim grisailles castle with scenes from the life of Gottfried Heinrich zu Pappenheim and at three frescoes in the courtyard arcades in Munich (storming a Türkenschanze, The Battle of Arcis, Maximilian I are his people, the Bill of Rights). He specialized in the battles and military painting. Became famous for his painting "Finis Poloniae (Farewell to the Fatherland from Poland) 1831" representing the parting of Polish officers from the home after the failed revolution against the Czarist rule.

Oil paintings by Dietrich Montens are in the Neue Pinakothek, the Bavarian Army Museum, in the Germanic National Museum and Museum of Military History in Vienna ( The battle on the Traun River bridge at Ebelsberg on 5 May 1809, dated 1825).

Literature: Thieme/Becker "Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künsler..", Leipzig, 1999; Boetticher "Malerwerke d. 19. Jahrhunderts", 1898; Hans Vollmer (Hrsg.), Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart, Leipzig 1931, Band 25, S. 88.

.Inscription: signed lower right.

Technique: oil on canvas. Magnicifent original period gold-plated frame.

Measurements: unframed w 15 1/2 " x h 11 3/4 " (39,5 x 30 cm); framed w 22 " x h 18 1/4 " (56 x 46,5 cm).

Condition: in very good condition.