Artwork
The Battle of Cadore
The Battle of Cadore is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Unknown. It dates from 1557 and is held in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum.
About this work
Overview
The work, titled The Battle of Cadore, is an oil painting that portrays a tumultuous combat scene. A mass of figures clash amid a landscape of rolling hills and scattered trees under a clouded sky. The composition is dense, with soldiers in varied dress—some armored, others in civilian clothing—engaged with swords, spears and other weapons.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre of the canvas a group struggles for a flag, a visual focus that suggests the contest for honor or territory. Around them, combatants tumble, some wounded, others retreating, conveying the chaos and desperation typical of a battlefield. The painting thus records a moment of violent confrontation, likely referencing a historic clash in the Cadore region.
Technique & Style
The artist employs chiaroscuro, contrasting light and shadow to model the figures and heighten the sense of movement. Thick applications of paint create texture, especially in the foreground where impasto emphasizes the weight of bodies and the fluttering flag. The overall handling balances detailed rendering of armor with looser, atmospheric treatment of sky and terrain.
History & Provenance
The painting’s medium is oil on canvas, a common choice for large narrative works. While specific details of its creation date and ownership are not provided, the work’s subject and stylistic traits align it with 19th‑century historic battle paintings that were popular in European academic circles.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
