Artwork
Carga de caballería del Ejército Federal
Carga de caballería del Ejército Federal is an oil painting by Carlos Morel. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina.
About this work
Overview
Carlos Morel’s 1830 oil painting *Carga de caballería del Ejército Federal* portrays a cavalry charge of the Federal Army. The composition centers on a rider in a blue jacket and red trousers, gripping the reins of a white horse while both appear to be moving forward. A hazy backdrop suggests additional riders and mounts, adding depth to the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The work records a moment of military action, reflecting Morel’s interest in documenting early Argentine history. By focusing on a single figure amid a larger, less defined group, the painting emphasizes individual bravery within the collective effort of the Federal forces, offering a visual narrative of the nation’s formative conflicts.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, the painting employs a vivid palette of blues, reds, browns and whites. Contrasting tones and dynamic brushwork convey motion and tension, while the handling of light suggests a subtle chiaroscuro effect that models the figures and enhances the sense of immediacy.
History & Provenance
*Carga de caballería del Ejército Federal* is part of the collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires. As one of the earliest works by an Argentine-born artist of note, it has remained in public holdings, serving as a reference point for the visual culture of the nation’s early nineteenth‑century military history.
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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