Equestrian portrait with 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.)
Full details of the work (click HERE)
The center of the composition is occupied by the equestrian portrait of a young rider, who looks directly at the viewer with a proud expression, dressed in a dark parade military uniform with red details and a plumed hat.
The leader is riding a dark bay horse, depicted in a dynamic and impetuous pose, a classic motif in equestrian iconography to symbolize power and dominion; he holds a flintlock pistol in his hand, a highly prized 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 are preparing to sustain a battle, with ranks of soldiers on horseback that add 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 command and military prestige.
The style of the painting therefore falls within the genre of the celebratory equestrian portrait, common between the 17th and 18th centuries, which emphasizes the status and authority of the subject. Although the exact identity of the leader is not certain, 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 author from the circle of Adam Frans van der Meulen (Brussels 1632 – Paris 1690), a French Baroque painter of Flemish origin specialized in battle scenes, and probably depicts a general of the army of Louis XIV.
The great popularity of this artist is linked to the assignment given 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 domination.
On commission of the Sun King, he traveled with the army and therefore 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 offices of the army.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The work sold is accompanied by a pleasant antique frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and guarantee.
We take care of and organize the transport of the purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers.
It is also possible to see 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
