Jacques Courtois the Burgundian (Saint Hippolyte 1621 - Rome 1676) attributable
Pair of battles between imperial knights and Turks
Oil on canvas (51 x 71 cm. - Antique frame, minor losses and defects 61 x 80 cm.)
Reference bibliography: G. Sestieri, I Pittori di Battaglia. Maestri Italiani e stranieri del XVII e XVIII secolo, Rome 1999, pp. 154-205.
FULL WORK DETAILS (CLICK HERE)
This splendid pair of battles between imperial and Turkish cavalry displays the compositional and stylistic characteristics typical of the output of Jacques Courtois, known as the Burgundian (Saint Hippolyte 1621 - Rome 1676), a prominent battle painter active in the mid-17th century who, thanks to his Baroque painting, characterized by surprising realism and great dramatic rendering of conflicts, became the master of this genre.
The works show a fine quality of execution with a refined pictorial treatment, with the dramatic effect of smoke columns in the sky and the agitated movement of the knights, which, in our opinion, would support the paternity of the painter himself.
Peculiar to his scenes is the depiction of the combat in the foreground, described with careful staging, which highlights the vortex of violence that reaches its peak in the center of the canvas, with the knight delivering sword blows, according to a surprising realistic tone.
The passion for battle scenes ripened in the Burgundian following his military experience, which he undertook in 1636 when he enlisted in the Spanish troops stationed in Milan, where he remained until 1639, before dedicating himself entirely to his painting career.
Battle paintings indeed met with particular favor in the Baroque era, often inspired by military news items and therefore of current relevance. The dramatic war events that marked the 17th century, from the bloody 'Thirty Years' War' to the strenuous defense of Vienna and the West against the Turks, were a fruitful source of inspiration for the birth and extraordinary diffusion of the 'battle' genre in the 17th century.
Among all the specialists of the genre, the Burgundian – born in Burgundy and moved to Italy at a young age, where he moved several times until his definitive transfer to Rome – was perhaps the most famous and celebrated, with commissions from some of the most important Roman and Italian families, especially among the aristocracy and royalty, including the Medici family.
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