Dear Matt Greetings from Paris !
Nice photograph but it is not a french soldier but rather a russian cosack. The legend under the photograph reads:
“1st cosack regiment of Orenburg. Officer in great uniform”. In fact with a little search this photograh is from album on the Russian Army by french photographers E and F de Jongh. The whole albums is reproduced in Gallica, the french archives nationales site:
your photograph is on plate N°54 where we see the man on horse !
Recall that since the defeat of 1870-71, the French sought alliance with Russia to counter Germany. We all know what happened next. However, it is less well known that the russians would be the most prepared to the future conflict because of the experience of their 1904 defeat against Japan.
MATTHEW'S ISLAND 
Dear Matt Greetings from Paris !
Nice photograph but it is not a french soldier but rather a russian cosack. The legend under the photograph reads:
“1st cosack regiment of Orenburg. Officer in great uniform”. In fact with a little search this photograh is from album on the Russian Army by french photographers E and F de Jongh. The whole albums is reproduced in Gallica, the french archives nationales site:
http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8436350p
your photograph is on plate N°54 where we see the man on horse !
Recall that since the defeat of 1870-71, the French sought alliance with Russia to counter Germany. We all know what happened next. However, it is less well known that the russians would be the most prepared to the future conflict because of the experience of their 1904 defeat against Japan.
All the best and regards.
Franck.