Artwork
Robber
Robber is an oil painting by August Querfurt. It dates from 1738 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Kraków.
About this work
Overview
August Querfurt’s oil painting *Robber*, dated circa 1738, presents a turbulent encounter involving several figures and horses. Darkly dressed men, some mounted and others on the ground, vie amid a chaotic foreground, while a fallen horse adds to the sense of disorder. The composition is set against a cloudy sky and sparse trees, emphasizing the dramatic tension of the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a violent skirmish, likely a robbery or ambush, as suggested by the title. The aggressive postures of the men and the distressed animals convey a narrative of conflict and lawlessness, reflecting Querfurt’s interest in martial and hunting subjects that dramatize human confrontation with danger.
Technique & Style
Bold, expressive brushwork defines the figures and equine forms, imparting a sense of movement and immediacy.
Querfurt employs a palette of deep, muted tones that heighten the painting’s somber mood. Bold, expressive brushwork defines the figures and equine forms, imparting a sense of movement and immediacy. The handling of light and shadow, together with the dynamic arrangement of bodies, reveals the influence of earlier battle painters such as Philips Wouwerman while retaining Querfurt’s own vigorous approach.
History & Provenance
Trained first by his father and later under Johann Rugendas in Augsburg, Querfurt developed a reputation for military and hunting scenes. *Robber* entered the collection of the National Museum in Kraków, where it remains on display. The artist continued to work in Vienna until his death in 1761, leaving a body of work that documents 18th‑century martial life.
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Artist & collection
Artist
August Querfurt (1696, Wolfenbüttel – 1761, Vienna) was an Austrian painter. He painted primarily soldiers and battle scenes. He was first instructed by his father, Tobias Querfurt, a landscape and animal painter, and…
