Rare handwritten painting on vellum, decorated with watercol - Lot 291

Rare handwritten painting on vellum, decorated with watercolor drawings, titled: "Principales positions du Soldat dans la Manoeuvre des Armes" and, at the bottom: "Dedie a Monsieur le Baron de Muller Chevalier de l'Ordre Royal et Militaire de Saint-Louis, Officier de la Legion d'honneur, Colonel en Premier du 86e Regiment d'Infanterie de ligne". Beautifully embellished with eighteen finely watercolored soldiers, accompanied by explanations of each movement; gilded baguette frame; 61.5 x 47 cm. (Some wear and pitting). Period 1814, First Restoration. Good condition. MULLER Joseph Antoine Charles, Baron de, born in Epfig (Bas-Rhin) on March 13, 1775, son of Louis Barthélémy de MULLER, quaestor to Cardinal de Rohan and magistrate of the town. He began his military career with the Boulonnais regiment, on May 1, 1789; he joined the same regiment, which became the 79th regiment of the line; he had a great military career during the Revolution and the First Empire. Revolution and the First Empire: lieutenant, 1793; captain, November 25, 1795; aide-de-camp to Macdonald, February 25, 1799; chef de bataillon, August 6, 1799; admitted as chef de bataillon to the foot grenadiers of the imperial guard, May 1, 1806; colonel of the 12th line infantry regiment, October 20, 1806; having received several wounds, he continued to serve actively; admitted to retirement, April 7, 1809; recalled to active service as commander of arms at Ostend, March 31, 1812; aide-de-camp to General CLARKE, Minister of War, August 31, 1813. Appointed colonel of the 86th line infantry regiment during the First Restoration, July 16, 1814. Retired again during the Cents-Jours, April 19, 1815; reinstated as colonel of the Ardèche departmental legion, October 11, 1815 and finally retired, September 1, 1819. Died in Nancy, May 6, 1853. Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur, March 25, 1804; Officer, July 7, 1807; Chevalier de Saint-Louis, August 20, 1814; Baron of the Empire, September 10, 1808.