Unattributed "Bataille d’Iena"

“Bataille d’Iena.”  From Napoleon par l’Image Populaire.  Portraits—Scenes—Batailles. 

[Épinal: Pellerin, 1819 to 1863]—Paris: Pellerin et Cie, 1912.  Folio ca. 15 x 22.  Wood engraving by Pellerin.  Original hand color.  Extensive text below image.

From 1819 to 1863, the firm of Pellerin at Épinal produced a number of secular French historical images by the process of wood engraving, with hand color.  It appears the firm kept the plates, for in 1912, Pellerin et Cie issues a group of these images in a portfolio entitled Napoleon par l’Image Populaire.  The primary force behind these images was Jean-Charles Pellerin (1756-1836), a clock maker in Épinal, who had the idea to expand production of wood engraved religious images to secular ones also, all for popular consumption.  Pellerin’s studio originated the print industry in Épinal.  Pellerin taught his trade to Réveillé, an imperial soldier, who recorded his memories of the campaigns.  Réveillé then taught François Georgin (1801-1863), who continued the firm. Later the firm moved to Paris and it is there that these later impressions were pulled, preserving for us these wonderful popular images which would scarce have survived into the 21st century otherwise.