Who painted Mounted Artilleryman Leading Three Horses?

Mounted Artilleryman Leading Three Horses was painted by Carle Vernet in 1818.

Where can I see Mounted Artilleryman Leading Three Horses?

Mounted Artilleryman Leading Three Horses is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Mounted Artilleryman Leading Three Horses?

Mounted Artilleryman Leading Three Horses is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Mounted Artilleryman Leading Three Horses

Carle Vernet , 1818

Mounted Artilleryman Leading Three Horses is a print by the Romanticist artist Carle Vernet. It dates from 1818 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Carle Vernet’s 1818 print, Mounted Artilleryman Leading Three Horses, depicts a cavalry officer in a vivid red uniform guiding a dark‑coloured horse while three additional horses follow. The composition places the figure against a smoky, rocky landscape that suggests a battlefield, with distant troops hinted in the background. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is an artilleryman, identifiable by his red coat, blue sashes and distinctive hat, embodying the confidence and authority of a military leader. By positioning the soldier at the forefront of a line of horses, Vernet emphasizes command and movement, while the surrounding haze and distant troops evoke the chaos and urgency of combat.

Technique & Style

Executed as a print, Vernet employs strong, contrasting tones that highlight the bright uniform against the darker horses and muted landscape. The lines convey the tension of the horses’ muscles and the rider’s posture, while the slightly faded palette suggests age and the wear of repeated impressions. The overall effect balances detailed figuration with a dynamic, atmospheric backdrop.

History & Provenance

Created in 1818, the print reflects Vernet’s interest in military subjects during the post‑Napoleonic era. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition (specific acquisition details are recorded in the museum’s catalog), where it remains on view as part of the European prints collection.

Artist & collection

Artist

Carle Vernet

Antoine Charles Horace Vernet, better known as Carle Vernet, was a French painter, the youngest child of painter Claude-Joseph Vernet and the father of painter Horace Vernet.