Napoleonic Uniforms in Original Watercolors by Friedrich (Fritz) Neumann

Below is shown a collection of original watercolors featuring exclusively Napoleonic uniforms by Friedrich (Fritz) Neumann. He was a uniform painter from the 19th century who did not leave a cohesive body of work. He is likely the author of the article on uniform works in the Royal Collections in Dresden, published in the Communications on the History of Military Dress (1893, No. 12). There he identifies himself as an inspector at the Royal Court Theatre in Dresden and reports that he (H.? Neumann) has for years been engaged in producing uniform pictures of all eras and peoples for collectors and enthusiasts. Richard Knötel likewise gratefully refers to this uniform painter elsewhere.

On auction platforms or in auctions, original watercolors by these same F. or H. Neumann occasionally — but rarely — turn up. The Costume Library Lipperheide (Berlin) also holds a collection (50 plates) by Neumann depicting Prussian soldier types from the Wars of Liberation.

The uniform pictures shown here will not be discussed at this point (possibly later); however the French types will be included in the focus on the Napoleonic French army with a corresponding text. The present collection is of particular interest especially because it predominantly shows uniforms of the German small states.