Equestrian portrait with battle scene, Adam Frans van der Meulen (Brussels 1632 – Paris 1690) circle

Equestrian portrait with a battle scene in the background Circle of Adam Frans van der Meulen (Brussels 1632 – Paris 1690) Oil on canvas (81 x 103 cm. Framed 105 x 124 cm.) Complete details of the work (click HERE) The center of the composition is occupied by the equestrian portrait of a young knight, who looks directly at the viewer with a proud expression, dressed in dark parade military uniform with red details and a feathered hat. The leader is astride a dark bay horse, depicted in a dynamic and impetuous pose, a classic motif in equestrian iconography to symbolize power and dominance; he holds a flintlock pistol, a highly valuable weapon in 17th-century France, becoming a symbol of prestige and military power, especially during the reign of the "Sun King". In the background, the troops of an army preparing to engage in battle, with ranks of mounted soldiers adding a narrative and historical-military context to the scene. The work uses the rhetoric of royal power to show the subject in a context of military command and prestige. The style of the painting therefore fits into the genre of celebratory equestrian portraiture, common between the 17th and 18th centuries, which emphasizes the status and authority of the subject. Although the exact identity of the leader is uncertain, the painting shares stylistic and thematic similarities with works by Italian and Flemish masters of the period. The painting in question is the work of an artist from the circle of Adam Frans van der Meulen (Brussels 1632 – Paris 1690), a French Baroque painter of Flemish origin specializing in war scenes, and it probably depicts a general of Louis XIV's army. The great popularity of this artist is linked to the commission entrusted to him by Louis XIV, King of France, as court painter during numerous wars and battles fought by France, including the War of Devolution (1667–1668) for the possession of the Netherlands, then under Spanish rule. On the commission of the Sun King, he traveled with the army and thus became an eyewitness to these events, in order to immortalize the monarch's military glories in painting: the works created were then placed to adorn the various royal residences and donated to the highest ranks of the army. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The work is sold complete with a pleasant antique frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and guarantee. We handle and organize the transport of purchased works, both within Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. It is also possible to view the painting in the gallery in Riva del Garda; we will be happy to welcome you to show you our collection of works. Contact us, without obligation, for any additional information. Follow us also on: INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco