This is a charcoal drawing of my great great grandfather. He was born in France in 1819 and I was told he served for 7 years. It looks like in the lower right hand corner it shows 1841. I heard he served for 7 years, so probably from around 1837 to 1844. 
Also, the headware is particularly interesting. Any help will be appreciated. He was born in France. I got the photo of the drawing from a cousin. According to our family reunion minutes of the meeting, this drawing has been in the family for as long as anyone can remember. My ancestor came to America in 1854. I think I'll do some research on the artist.
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2It would be helpful to know at least where are you from or where was your great great grandfather from or where did you get that drawing from.– mikeboixDec 27, 2019 at 10:21
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2It looks like a cuirassier's hat to me. Was your ancestor French?– kimchi loverDec 27, 2019 at 13:11
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The artist signed the drawing "D. Colotte".– SpencerDec 27, 2019 at 14:55
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Thanks everybody for the information. He was born in France. I got the photo of the drawing from a cousin. According to our family reunion minutes of the meeting, this drawing has been in the family for as long as anyone can remember. My ancestor came to America in 1854. I think I'll do some research on the artist. Thanks for the answer below. It does match the uniform photo below a lot.– MarthaDec 27, 2019 at 18:56
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The name of the artist is indeed a french name.– Jean Marie BeckerDec 29, 2019 at 0:09
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1 Answer
I have found what appears to be a close match to your ancestors uniform. A plate found on the site weaponsandwarfare.com shows a soldier from the French 8th dragoons, circa 1827, which has many matching characteristics.
The details which seem to closely match would include the shape of the symbol on the belt buckle and medal on the sash, button count and pattern on the uniform and sleeve, tassel on the sword, and many features on that spectacular helm. Discrepancies I see include the collar design, epaulets, and the lined pants. The associated entry on the website discusses the image, and notes variations existed:
b) Trooper, 8th Dragoons, 1827.
This plate illustrates the Dragoon helmet (also issued in steel to the cuirassiers) which was authorised in 1821 but in some cases probably not adopted until 1825, succeeding that shown in Plate 8. Of a most unusual pattern, of the traditional Dragoon brass, it had a horsehair mane and aigrette, and a hair ‘brush’ along the top of the crest. In 1826 squadron-identification in the form of a coloured ball placed at the bottom of the plume was added, in blue for the 1st squadron of every regiment, crimson for the 2nd, green for the 3rd, sky-blue for the 4th, rose-pink for the 5th and yellow for the 6th. This helmet lasted until 1840, when it was replaced by a more conventional pattern with ordinary mane and leopard-skin turban. The jackets remained the traditional dragoon green in colour, but by 1823 new facing-colours had been introduced, of deep rose for the 1st-4th Regiments 5th-8th yellow, and crimson for the 3th and 10th. Trousers were grey with piping of the facing colour, later changed to plain red for dismounted wear and red with leather reinforcing for mounted duty, but it appears that there were variations in this rule; the print from which this plate is taken shows red trousers with piping of the facing colour!
The above mentioned change to the 'leopard skin' variety of the helm (seen here) in 1840 helps to confirm the dating on the artwork, establishing that your ancestor received his uniform pre-1840.
