Battle of Samannoud, Denon, Napoleon Egypt Campaign Engraving, 1802
This wide panoramic engraving depicting the Battle of Samannoud was published in 1802 as part of Denon’s Voyage dans la Basse et la Haute Égypte. Created immediately following Napoleon Bonaparte’s Egyptian campaign, it stands among the earliest visual testimonies of the military and geographic realities encountered by the French expedition.
Rather than heroicising individual figures, Denon presents the battle as a spatial event embedded within the landscape. Troop formations, artillery smoke, and terrain are rendered with documentary clarity, reinforcing the strategic nature of the scene. The extended horizontal format enhances the sense of scale and movement, drawing the viewer across the unfolding action.
The plate holds strong appeal for collectors of Napoleonic history and early military imagery, as well as for those interested in the visual culture of empire and exploration at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Condition: Very good, with mild age toning and a clean, even impression; plate mark faint.
Framing tips: Long, narrow frame in dark wood with restrained matting; museum glass recommended.
Technique: Engraving Maker: Dominique Baron Vivant Denon (after), Paris, 1802
Keywords: Samannoud, Napoleon, Egypt campaign, Denon, battle scene, military history, 1802 engraving, French expedition, panoramic print
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