Private, Artillery (Horse), French Army, 1886, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This 1888 chromolithograph by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company depicts a French soldier in a military uniform. Created as a trade card for Sweet Caporal cigarettes, the card features a detailed illustration of a private in the French Army's artillery. The soldier is depicted in full uniform, saluting, with a sword at his side. The card’s title, "Private Artillery (Horse)," highlights the soldier's specialization and use of horses within the French Army. The image was part of a series commissioned by the Kinney Tobacco Company to showcase various military uniforms of the time. This artwork, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a fascinating window into the military culture of 19th-century France.