Count Alphonse de Toulouse-Lautrec Montfa

A noted eccentric and fancier of horses, hawks, hunting, and kites, he was a "man out of time", whose vast wealth and royal connections allowed him to ignore convention.

[1] Once, the count appeared uninvited at a parade in Paris, riding in a Norwegian cart pulled by a Welsh pony, while flying a French war-kite.

[1] He held little regard for his son Henri, who became a famous painter and poster artist, but could not ride a horse.

[1] Born in Albi on 10 August 1838, Alphonse was the son of Count Raymond (the Black Prince) and Gabrielle du Bosc.

A gifted student, he passed his exams and entered the military officer school at Saint-Cyr.