Who painted A Horseman Wearing a Grande Cockade [verso]?

A Horseman Wearing a Grande Cockade [verso] was painted by Vivant Denon in 1790.

Where can I see A Horseman Wearing a Grande Cockade [verso]?

A Horseman Wearing a Grande Cockade [verso] is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is A Horseman Wearing a Grande Cockade [verso]?

A Horseman Wearing a Grande Cockade [verso] is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

A Horseman Wearing a Grande Cockade [verso]

Vivant Denon , 1790

A Horseman Wearing a Grande Cockade [verso] is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist Vivant Denon. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1790, this graphite drawing on gray‑blue paper is attributed to the French artist Vivant Denon. It depicts a mounted figure in profile, his horse turned to the right, rendered with swift, gestural lines that convey a sense of imminent motion.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a rider clad in a large hat and cloak, grasping the reins as if poised to spur the animal forward. The emphasis on dynamic posture and the dramatic silhouette suggests an interest in the vigor of the rider‑horse relationship, a theme common in late‑eighteenth‑century studies of equestrian subjects.

Technique & Style

Denon employed graphite to achieve a range of tonal values, from light washes to darker, decisive strokes. The paper’s gray‑blue hue adds a subtle atmospheric quality. Visible construction lines and uneven shading give the work a sketch‑like, unfinished character, highlighting the artist’s exploratory approach rather than a polished final piece.

History & Provenance

The drawing is dated to the period just before the French Revolution, a time when Denon was active as a painter, draftsman, and later as a museum administrator. Its survival on paper indicates it may have served as a preparatory study or personal record, later entering a collection that documents Denon’s broader oeuvre.