Théodore LÉVIGNE (Noirétable 1848- 1912 Lyon) - Lot 248

Théodore LÉVIGNE (Noirétable 1848- 1912 Lyon) Portrait of Edmond van Schalkwyck (1834 - 1914), Baron de Boisaubin, Squadron Leader of the 12th Cuirassiers Regiment, in uniform, on the field of maneuver, holding a pair of binoculars. Oil on canvas Signed and dated lower left: Lyon 1880 128 x 83.5cm Canvas slightly pierced in two places on the sides. A Lyon-based painter equally adept at portraits and landscapes, Lévigne enjoyed a close friendship with Louis-Alphonse de Bouligny (1828-1908), colonel of the 12th cuirassiers regiment (formerly Cuirassiers de la Garde Impériale). The regiment moved to the Lyon garrison in 1873. Since 1878, Boulligny's staff has included squadron leader van Schalkwyck de Boisaubin. A Saint Cyrien from 1854 to 1856 (Crimea-Sebastopol promotion), he served successively with the 2nd Cuirassiers regiment (1856-1869) and the 3rd Chasseurs d'Afrique regiment (1869-1872), with which he took part in the heroic and desperate "Morning Charge" of September 1, 1870 at Sedan, during which the division was decimated, a sacrifice that gave rise to the famous words of the future Emperor Wilhelm, who witnessed it: "Ah les braves gens! On his return from captivity, he joined the 18th Dragoon Regiment (1872-1877), the 10th Hussars Regiment (1877-1878), the 12th Cuirassiers Regiment (1878-1887), the 10th Dragoon Regiment (1887) and, as Lieutenant-Colonel, his last post, the 24th Dragoon Regiment (1887). He was made a knight of the Légion d'honneur in 1875. The van Schalkwyck family includes among its allies: de Becdelièvre, Bonnin de La Bonninière de Beaumont, de Bruc de Montplaisir, de Follin de Vezin, Guérin du Grandlaunay, Tillette de Clermont-Tonnerre. Expert: Pierre-Antoine Martenet