Battle of Ascalon, 18 November 1177

Larivière employs a realistic, academic approach, rendering faces and armor with meticulous detail. A muted palette of earth tones and grays dominates, while chiaroscuro—strong light‑and‑dark contrasts—heightens the sense of movement and three‑dimensionality across the crowded battlefield.

Painted in 1842, the work reflects 19th‑century French interest in historicist subjects. It entered the royal collection and is presently displayed at the Palace of Versailles, where it has remained part of the institution’s holdings since its acquisition.