Artwork

Spanish Campaign: The Mires of Valderas, Province of Leon

Spanish Campaign:  The Mires of Valderas, Province of Leon, by Louis Albert Guislain Bacler d'Albe, 1816
Spanish Campaign:  The Mires of Valderas, Province of Leon, by Louis Albert Guislain Bacler d'Albe, 1816

Spanish Campaign: The Mires of Valderas, Province of Leon is a print by the Romanticist artist Louis Albert Guislain Bacler d'Albe. It dates from 1816 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Spanish Campaign: The Mires of Valderas, Province of Leon is a print created by Baron Louis Albert Guillain Bacler d'Albe in 1816, depicting a pivotal moment during the Peninsular War in Spain.

Subject & Meaning

The print captures a chaotic scene of the French army entangled in a muddy landscape near Valderas, Leon, highlighting the challenges faced during the campaign. The composition contrasts the stranded troops and supplies with a distant, elevated building, underscoring the adversity of the situation.

Technique & Style

Bacler d'Albe employed fine lines to convey the intensity of the moment, rendering the mud's thickness and the heaviness of the sky. The work's dramatic and emotive qualities align with broader artistic trends of the time.

History & Provenance

Created in 1816 by Bacler d'Albe, a trusted military adviser and cartographer to Napoleon, the print reflects the artist's firsthand experience with military campaigns and his skill in visual documentation.

Context

The piece is informed by Bacler d'Albe's role in Napoleon's army and his presence at key events like the Siege of Toulon. It also relates to the artistic movement of Romanticism, which emphasized drama and emotional depth.

Legacy

While specific legacy details of this piece are not highlighted, it contributes to the broader historical and artistic record of the Peninsular War and Napoleon's campaigns, offering a unique blend of military insight and Romantic sensibility.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Louis Albert Guislain Bacler d'Albe

Artist

Louis Albert Guislain Bacler d'Albe

Louis Albert Guislain, Baron Bacler d’Albe (French pronunciation: ; October 21, 1761 – September 12, 1824) was a French artist, as well as the map-maker and closest strategic advisor of Napoleon from 1796 until 1814.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.