(St. Omer 1835–1885 Paris)
Defence of Longboyau’s Gate (Chateau Buzenval near Paris) on 21 October 1870, signed, dated A. de Neuville 1871, oil on paper, laid down on canvas, 48 x 72 cm, framed, (W)

The present lot is an oil study of the 1879 painting of the same title held by the Musée de l´Armèe in Paris (cf. inventory no.14613 / Cote Eb 1158, oil on canvas, 132 x 175 cm).

The Third Republic was a golden age for battle painting. The French artists attempted to overcome the trauma of defeat in 1871 through intense dramaturgy and depictions of heroic actions, often in hopeless situations. The defence of the Longboyau gate depicts the rescue of a cannon during the battle around Paris on 21st October 1870.
On the afternoon of 21 October, Prussian riflemen met the French infantry in Malmaison, where they met an artillery division in position at a strategic point – by the Longboyau gate. At the point at which Longboyau should have capitulated, a handful of soldiers under Captain Nismes remained at the gate, fighting to their last bullet, in order to cover the artillery’s retreat. The painting’s powerful composition reveals the drama of the battle. With its masterly depiction, Longboyau is one of Alphonse’ de Neuville’s most important works.
On 21st October, during the siege of Paris which had begun on 19 September, French units led by General Noel (there are reports of twelve battalions and 40 field guns) went on a sortie against the German positions, starting out from the fort at Mont Valérien. The main thrust of the French attack was directed at Malmaison and Chateau de Buzenval. However, due to intense battery fire, the French troops were unable to break through. There was heavy fighting in the grounds of Chateau Buzenval. After around three hours of fighting and with heavy losses the French withdrew to the fort. A fresh sortie was made on 19th January 1871.
Today a memorial plaque stands at the location of the former gate, bearing an illustration of the painting.