Portrait of Marquis de St. Hilarie

Watercolor and gouache

early 19th century

1 1/4 x 1 1/2 in., framed to 1 5/8 x 1 7/8 in. 

Brass mat. Inscription to verso reads: "Marquis de St Hilaire / Capitaine / au / Royal / Auvergne." 

A nice portrait identified as the Marquis de St. Hilarie in uniform. The Saint-Hilaire family produced several notable members including politician Philippe Dequeux, Marquis of Saint-Hilaire (1766-1847) and Louis-Vincent-Joseph Le Blond, come de Sainte-Hilaire (1766-1809) who served as a French general during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Although the portrait is not positively identified to either, the portrait is almost certainly a close relation who served in the Royal-Auvergne Regiment. 

The Régiment d'Auvergne was formed in 1635 from the Régiment du Bourg de Lespinasse and, in 1776, it was split and formed 22 new regiments during the French military's reorganization after the Seven Years' War. The first and third battalions of the Auvergne retained their name, while the second and fourth were designated the Régiment de Gâtinais. In 1777, they joined the American Revolutionary War, seeing action at the siege of Savannah, reinforced Rochambeau, and fought at the Siege of Yorktown and witnessed the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. At the request of Count Rochambeau, who witnessed their gallantry at  Yorktown, the regiment was named the Royal-Auvergne. 

[Art, Fine Art, Portrait Miniature, Paintings, 19th Century, French Revolution, France, Napoleon] [American Revolutionary War, American Revolution, Founding Fathers, Declaration of Independence, Colonial America, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, James Monroe]