Artwork
Reitender Feldherr
Reitender Feldherr is an unspecified painting by Josef Winterhalder der Jüngere. It dates from 1765 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1765, *Reitender Feldherr* is an oil painting by Josef Winterhalder the Younger, a member of the fourth generation of the Winterhalder artistic lineage. The work is part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s collection and portrays a dynamic military scene on horseback.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a commander in a vivid red coat, astride a brown horse with a dark mane, brandishing a sword. A second figure, dressed in a white and blue striped shirt, appears to be drawn along by the horse, emphasizing the urgency of the moment. A patterned cloth or flag with a grid design drapes the background, adding a sense of battlefield ambience.
Technique & Style
Winterhalder employs pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting illuminated areas with deep shadows to model forms and convey three‑dimensionality. The brisk brushwork and careful rendering of light on the horse’s coat and the figures’ garments enhance the impression of movement.
History & Provenance
The artist worked throughout Moravia, Lower Austria, and Hungary, reflecting the geographic range of his commissions. After its creation, the painting entered the holdings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s 18th‑century European collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Josef Winterhalder der Jüngere
Josef Winterhalder the Younger (25 January 1743 – 17 January 1807) was a German-Bohemian painter belonging to the fourth generation of painters and sculptors in the Winterhalder family. He worked in Moravia, Lower Austria and Hungary.
