Alfred SAINTE-MARIE (active from 1853 to 1870) "Parade of the Artillery Regiment of the Imperial Guard passing in front of the Emperor and the Empress". Oil on canvas, signed lower left Height : 55 cm 55 cm ; Width : 74 cm About 1860-1870 Provenance : Former Christopher FORBES collection. History: Our painting was executed after 1860 since the colonel of the regiment no longer wears the racket cord on his uniform, nor the talpack cord, provisions adopted in 1860. Two colonels can be represented on this work, Vernhet de Laumière (1859-1862) or de Berckheim (1862-1866). It is probably the latter who is represented and who appears blond on the known photographs of him, just like the figure represented. The painting would have been executed around 1862-1863, since he became Commander of the Legion of Honor afterwards (the colonel represented is an officer of this Order). Exhibition: Nassau County Museum of art, Napoleon & Eugenie, Opulence and Splendor of French's Second Empire, June 7 - September 7, 2009