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| FRANZ ALEKSEEVITCH RUBO |
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THE FRAGMENTS OF PANORAMA "THE BATTLE OF BORODINO" | |
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The command post of General D.S.Dochturov. 1912. Canvas, oil Napoleon undertook the second attempt to destroy Russian left wing near Semyonovskoe. At this moment the battle-front is on the Senyonovsky stream on the eastern bank of which the Russian troops are concentrated after they left the Bagration fleches. After Bagration had been wounded the "iron" General D. S. Dochturov took the command of the left wing. He could be seen on the fore ground near the drum. The soldiers of Moskovskiy and Astrakhanskiy Grenadier regiments are going through the dilapidated village. The officers salute to General Dochturov. There are the troops that were defending Bagration פכורט behind the destroyed huts at the outskirts of the village. General Konovnitsin is in front of them on the white horse. Behind these troops are unmounted dragoons of Kharkovskiy and Chernigovskiy regiments and artillery reserve. Two cuirassier regiments from the division of I. M. Duka are rushing to the aid of Russian foot grenadier regiments. |
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Guard regiments are repelling the attacks of the French cavalry. 1912. Canvas, oil. The Russian troops actively defends. The soldiers of composite grenadier division counter-attack with a swift thrust. They run along the light bridge, in the knee-deep water across Semyonovsky stream, climb up on the steep slopes of the ravine and enter into the fierce hand-to-hand fight with French. Life-Guard Ismailovskiy, Litovskiy and Finlandskiy regiments formed in squares displayed unprecedented fortitude and heroism. During six hours under persistent fire of enemy artillery guardsmen were repelling the attacks of Napoleon's "iron men" - the cavalry of General Nansouty. Every second guardsman was left on the battlefield but Napoleon's cavalry did not manage to break down their resistance. M. I. Kutusov in his report after the battle wrote " The Life-Guard Ismailovskiy and Litovskiy regiments covered themselves with glory in full view of the whole army in this battle". Russian Guards artillery arranged along Semyonovskiy stream was firing on enemy. |
 
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Semyonovskie (Bagration) fleches. 1912. Canvas, oil. The attacks of French infantry follows one after another: Friant's division advance as a huge avalanche. Its attack is supported by Sorbier's artillery. Bagration fleches seized by French are by the forest. The best forces of French army were thrown on these fortifications: infantry corps of Davout, Ney and Junot, Murat's cavalry. The fleches were defended by the troops of the 2nd Western army under the command of Bagration. During six hours the heroic defenders repelled seven enemy attacks by swift counter-attacks and the fierce hand-to-hand fighting. Only at noon when Bagration was hardly wounded Russians left the fortifications. Having lost 30 thousand killed and wounded the French troops managed to press Russians just 700m back. Napoleon had not reached his main goal - to break through the Russian defence line. |
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Napoleon command post. 1912. Canvas, oil. At a distance - Shevardino redoubt - the Napoleon command post. By both sides of it - Old and Young Guards are standing. Napoleon on the white horse at the head of suite. From all sides messengers are rushing to him. They report about unsuccessful attacks and outstanding resistance of Russians and ask for reinforcements. The battle continues already 8 hours but Napoleon did not achieve success neither in the left wing nor in the center of the Russian position. |
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The Attack of Saxon Cuirassiers. 1912. Canvas, oil. Trying to break through the Russian left wing Napoleon throws the cavalry at the North of Semenovskoe village; we see the attack of La Tour-Maubourg corps. The Saxons are on the fore ground and behind them Westphalians. The natural obstacle - the Semyonovskiy ravine - stands on the way of the enemy cavalry. The cavalry formations are disordered, galloping at full speed cuirassiers are halting their horses and cross the ravine in small groups. The cavalry attack is weakened. Here the artist underlines that the position chosen by Kutuzov for general battle was uncomfortable for offensive Napoleon army. At the roadside the Commander-in-Chief of the French Reserve Cavalry Marshal Murat observes the motion of cuirassiers. |
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The Cavalry Combat in Rye. 1912. Canvas, oil. The violent fight between Russian and enemy cavalry begins. This is one of the culmination, most dynamic and tense fragments of panorama. At full speed man to man Saxon and Russian cuirassiers collide. The Russian cuirassier surrounded by Saxons is in the very center of the scene. This character is a sacred image of courage and heroism of the whole Russian army and Russian warriors that were self-sacrificing for the sake of the Motherland. At the back ground the dragoons of Kievskiy and Novorossiyskiy regiments counter-attack the Polish uhlans of General Rojnetsky. After several hours of tense fight the enemy was thrown back. The Borodino village is burning. The white church of Christmas is the only dumb evident of the heroic glory of Russian arms that remained up to now. |
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Gorky - the Command Post of Russian Commander-in-Chief Field-Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov. 1912. Canvas, oil. The Akhtyrskiy Hussar regiment and Astrakhanskiy Cuirassier regiment go into the battle. Ahead, in green coat, the commander of brigade General Borozdin the 2nd. The command post of Russian Commander-in-Chief is at the distance near Gorky village. M. I. Kutuzov is surrounded by the officers of his Headquarters. Sixty-seven-years-old commander calmly and confidently was guiding the battle during all the 15 hours of it. In any battle Kutuzov attached the utmost importance to preserving the reserves. He always underlined that "the general that preserves yet the reserves is not defeated". At the right side of the command post the 2nd and the 3rd cavalry corps are getting out of reserve. |
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Wounded General P. I. Bagration is taken away from the battlefield. 1912. Canvas, oil. The Life-Guard Semyonovskiy and Preobrajenskiy regiments are located near remote birches. At the distance Konnogvardeiskiy and Kavalergardskiy horseguards regiments - the honor of Russian cavalry - stand expecting the command to attack. Along the road the vehicles with wounded are moving to the aid point in Knyazkovo village. Wounded Prince Bagration is in the last vehicle harnessed by troika. The horseguardsmen salute to the hero of Borodino. |