Artwork
Carga de caballería - Serie Usos y Costumbres de Buenos Aires
Carga de caballería - Serie Usos y Costumbres de Buenos Aires is an oil painting by Carlos Morel. It dates from 1839 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1839 by Carlos Morel, a pioneering Argentine painter, this oil work records a cavalry charge as part of his broader series on the daily life of Buenos Ayres. The canvas belongs to the National Museum of Fine Arts in Buenos Ayres, where it remains in the museum’s permanent collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures a moment of military action: a white horse rears at the centre, its rider in a black jacket and red trousers gripping the reins, while a fallen figure in a red shirt lies in the foreground. Additional mounted soldiers appear in the distance, suggesting the larger scope of the charge.
Technique & Style
Morel employs a restrained palette of browns, grays and reds, using bold, expressive brushwork to convey motion. Strong chiaroscuro models the central horse and rider, creating depth and emphasizing the dramatic tension of the scene.
History & Provenance
The painting was produced as part of Morel’s “Usos y Costumbres de Buenos Ayres” series, which aimed to document contemporary Argentine customs. After its creation, the work entered the collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts, where it has been displayed since.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Carlos Morel (12 February 1813 – 10 September 1894) was a prominent Argentine painter in the nineteenth century, known as the first truly Argentine painter.
Museum
National Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina
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