Battle of Novi on 4 August 1799

Kotzebue employs a realistic approach, rendering textures of fabric, metal, and flesh with meticulous detail. A muted palette of browns, grays and greens dominates, while chiaroscuro models forms against a sky heavy with smoke and cloud. The overall effect is a gritty, almost documentary portrayal of combat.

Created in 1853, the painting entered the collection of the State Hermitage Museum, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the 19th‑century Russian interest in European military history and Romantic depictions of historic events.

The Battle of Novi was a decisive engagement of the War of the Second Coalition, pitting French forces against an Austro‑Russian alliance. Kotzebue, a German Romantic known for battle scenes, chose this episode to illustrate the larger geopolitical struggles of the era, aligning his work with contemporary nationalist narratives.