Eugène Charpentier (1811-1890) - Departure for the review, visit of General Séré de Rivières in Laon

At the foot of the Porte d'Ardon at Laon in the Aisne département, General Séré de Rivières (1815 - 1895), nicknamed the Vauban of the 19th century and director of the engineering department, was in charge of reorganizing a defensive line following the defeat of the Prussians in 1870.
The town of Laon, built on a mountain, has always been a stronghold surrounded by ramparts; an impregnable bastion, Emperor Napoleon I failed to dislodge the German general Blücher during the 100 Days.
In 1874, when the general took office, he had to rethink his strategy for defending the country's north-eastern frontier, as the thick stone walls were no longer safe from the Prussian cannons, which had advanced considerably.
Eugène Charpentier was a pupil of François Gérard (1770-1837) and later
of Léon Cogniet (1770- 1880), a painter specializing in battle scenes.

Many of his works are on display at the Château de Versailles museum.
- The Duke of Orleans at the battle of the citadel of Antwerp ( MV 5159 )
- Marshal Jourdan ( MV 1127 )
- The Battle of Solferino 1859 ( purchased by Emperor Napoleon III at the 1861 Salon of paintings