Artwork
A Mounted Officer
A Mounted Officer is an oil painting by the Realist artist Édouard Detaille. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
A Mounted Officer is an 1889 oil painting by French artist Édouard Detaille, depicting a military scene with a high degree of realism.
Subject & Meaning
The officer's forward gaze and upright posture convey a sense of discipline and authority.
The painting portrays a mounted military officer, dressed in distinctive dark blue jacket, red pants, and hat, holding a sword and riding a brown horse on a dirt road. The officer's forward gaze and upright posture convey a sense of discipline and authority. Surrounding him, a group of uniformed personnel, some mounted, gather in a grassy field under an overcast sky, contextualizing the officer within a broader military context.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, the work exemplifies Detaille's adherence to the Realist movement through meticulous attention to detail in uniforms, horse anatomy, and environmental elements, achieving a high level of accuracy and realism.
History & Provenance
Created in 1889 by Édouard Detaille, who was closely associated with the French army as its 'semi-official artist,' the painting is now part of the Art Institute of Chicago's collection.
Context
Painted during a period of heightened interest in military life, A Mounted Officer reflects Detaille's unique position in capturing the realities of the French army's daily existence during the late 19th century.
Legacy
As a quintessential example of Detaille's Realist military art, the painting contributes to the broader legacy of 19th-century French Realism, offering a detailed glimpse into the era's military culture.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Baptiste Édouard Detaille (French pronunciation: ; 5 October 1848 – 23 December 1912) was a French academic painter and military artist noted for his precision and realistic detail.
