French cuirassiers in combat with mamelukes, c. 1800

Sepia wash drawing (slightly crude), unsigned; 2 cuirassiers in gun and sword combat with mamleuke in foreground, other smaller figures in battle in background. Sepia wash drawing (slightly crude), unsigned; 2 cuirassiers in gun and sword combat with mamleuke in foreground, other smaller figures in battle in background. Mamelukes and French cuirassiers were never historically engaged in combat with each other. In 1800 the only French cavalry that might have had the odd cuirass was the 8th Cavalry and they did not wear iron helmets, they wore a metal skull cap under a chapeau/bicorne. They also never served in Egypt which was the only place the French fought against Mamelukes. Therefore, this is probably a "fantasy" drawing based on imagination. N.Y., Rockman Prints, 1949. title and subtitle supplied by cataloger