Artwork
The Picket
The Picket is an oil painting by the Realist artist Édouard Detaille. It dates from 1875 and is held in the collection of the Walters Art Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Picket is a 1875 oil painting by Édouard Detaille, a French artist associated with the Realist movement. It is part of the Walters Art Museum collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a lone soldier on horseback, dressed in formal military attire, standing guard in a snowy landscape. The detailed depiction of the uniform and equipment conveys a sense of military readiness, while the isolated setting evokes a feeling of coldness and solitude.
Technique & Style
Detaille's work is characterized by meticulous attention to detail, particularly in the rendering of the soldier's uniform and the horse's equipment. The painting's precise style is typical of Detaille's academic approach to art.
History & Provenance
Created in 1875, The Picket reflects Detaille's close connection to military life, which earned him the reputation as the 'semi-official artist of the French army'.
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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.
