Who painted The Advance of the Cavalry?

The Advance of the Cavalry was painted by Edwin Forbes in 1876.

Where can I see The Advance of the Cavalry?

The Advance of the Cavalry is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Advance of the Cavalry?

The Advance of the Cavalry is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

The Advance of the Cavalry

Edwin Forbes , 1876

The Advance of the Cavalry is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Edwin Forbes. It dates from 1876 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Advance of the Cavalry is an 1876 etching by American artist Edwin Forbes. Executed in black and white, the print captures a cavalry unit progressing across a soggy landscape, with a solitary rider prominently positioned in the foreground.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a lone trooper astride a rearing horse, rifle resting on his lap, while additional mounted soldiers follow in the distance. The scene suggests a military maneuver—either a battlefield advance or a training exercise—emphasizing the vigor and coordinated movement of the cavalry.

Technique & Style

Forbes employed the traditional etching process, incising fine lines into a metal plate to render texture and motion. The delicate hatching conveys the horse’s musculature and the churned mud, while the contrast between dark outlines and lighter spaces creates a sense of depth and kinetic energy.

History & Provenance

Created in the post‑Civil War era, the work reflects contemporary interest in documenting military subjects. Though specific ownership records are limited, the print has appeared in several 19th‑century collections of American war art and remains a representative example of Forbes’s printmaking output.