Napoleon's 1812 Invasion of Russia

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Napoleon's 1812 Invasion of Russia
Napoleon's 1812 Invasion of Russia
Artist/Maker (American, born France, 1875 – 1957)
Date1935-1938
MediumWatercolor collage
DimensionsOverall: 16.8 x 24.4 cm (6 5/8 x 9 5/8 in.) Frame: 41.4 x 46.4 cm (16 5/16 x 18 1/4 in.)
Credit LineHamilton College Collection
Object numberINV.804
On view
DescriptionThis composition might have been part of a large group of preparatory works and drafts depicting Napoleon’s 1812 invasion of Russia. Hoffbauer drew thousands of sketches and created 120 tempera paintings of this subject that he then presented to Walt Disney with the proposal of doing a historical animated cartoon. He titled the collective series “Napoleon’s Russian Campaign.” Disney was impressed but did not think the content aligned with his current work. Disney is quoted as saying “Mr. Hoffbauer, I’ll never be the artist you are, but…I deal in whimsy.”
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Additional Details

Signature Recto, lower left corner (estate stamp): "C. Hoffbauer"
Inscribed Verso, bottom: [tag from Barbosa's Frames]
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