A sowar of Indian cavalry on the Western Front, 1915

Watercolour, signed lower left 'J. Berne-Bellecour' and dated lower right 'Juillet 1915.', by Jean-Jacques Berne-Bellecour (1874-1939), 1915.

Presented by the artist to General Sir George de Symons Barrow (1864-1959) who served with the 35th Scinde Horse and went on to command the Yeomanry Mounted Division in 1917 and the 4th Cavalry Division in Palestine in 1918.

The artist, Jean-Jacques Berne-Bellecour, studied with his father, Etienne, as well as Jean-Léon Gérôme and the military painter, Edouard Detaille. Berne-Bellecour began exhibiting military paintings from 1904 but, on the outbreak of the World War One, he was made a corporal in the 34eme Regiment d'Infanterie. He was soon sent on detachment as an official artist for the Musée de l'Armée, and also spent some time recording the British Army.