A Russian Cossak (sic) in pursuit of the French

DESCRIPTION: Captioned: ‘A Russian Cossak (sic) in pursuit of the French’. Also: ‘Published & Sold by James Lumsden & Son, Glasgow’. This 19th-century hand-colored engraving, titled "A Russian Cossack in pursuit of the French," depicts a Don Cossack during the Napoleonic Wars. Cossacks were irregular Russian cavalry known for their endurance and skill with the long lance, shown here. They played a decisive role in the 1812 French retreat from Moscow by harassing and "pursuing" Napoleon’s dwindling forces. The rider is wearing a traditional high fur hat (papaha) and a long kaftan, standard attire for the light cavalry units from the Russian steppes. The horse is depicted in a full gallop, emphasizing the speed and relentless nature of the pursuit mentioned in the title. In the lower left, smaller figures of retreating French soldiers are visible, providing a sense of scale and narrative to the chase. The top margin identifies the publisher as James Lumsden & Son, a prominent printing firm based in Glasgow, Scotland, active during the early 1800s. STYLE:Colourised engraving COLOUR: Colour SIZE (cm): 16.5 x 23.5 CREATORS: PUBLICATION: PUBLISHER: Glasgow: James Lumsden & Son DATE: ?early C19 COMMENTS: Very good condition SUBJECT: Miscellany PACKAGE: Single one-sided sheet in acid-free mount, flat & unfolded inside hard-backed envelope. Royal Mail Tracked 24 included. Note: Images are provided for illustration purposes only and are intended to show the complete printed product, including any imperfections of age that may be present. Frames or props shown in the images are for display purposes only and are not included with your purchase.