THE COLORS OF NAPOLEON'S ARMY 1807-1815: Painting Guide

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Researching uniforms at the Musee de l'Emperi in Salon-de-Provence (France) and with assistance of private collector Jean Brunon, we examined the best existing samples of First Empire uniforms and nearly all of our visual color matches were made using interior surfaces of actual surviving sample uniforms, behind linings, where colors were most likely to remain consistent over the past 200 years. The printer used actual samples of cloth to match the colors presented in this painting guide.

These were checked against cloth samples in other museums and institutions to provide cross-references. The goal of this four-page painting guide was to authenticate the color Imperial Blue used on all French infantry and artillery uniforms.