Artwork
The Battle of Mount Isel 1809
The Battle of Mount Isel 1809 is an oil painting by the Biedermeier artist Karl von Blaas. It dates from 1869 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Karl von Blaas, an Austrian artist noted for portraiture and religious subjects, completed an oil painting titled *The Battle of Mount Isel 1809* in 1869. Executed in the Biedermeier historical genre, the work records a nineteenth‑century military episode and is part of the permanent collection of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas portrays a gathering of men in period dress around a bearded figure in a brown robe who is shaking hands with a man in a green jacket and black hat. The central handshake suggests a moment of accord or surrender within the larger conflict, while the surrounding onlookers observe attentively, emphasizing the significance of the encounter.
Technique & Style
Rendered in oil on canvas, the painting employs the restrained palette and clear detailing characteristic of Biedermeier historicism. Blaas balances a naturalistic treatment of figures with a modest, atmospheric background of trees and a cloudy sky, using light and color to draw focus to the central exchange.
History & Provenance
Created in 1869, the work entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s 19th‑century effort to assemble a representative collection of Austrian historical painting.
Context
The Battle of Mount Isel, fought in 1809 during the Napoleonic Wars, was a notable episode in Austrian military history. Blaas’s choice to depict this scene aligns with the Biedermeier period’s interest in national events and the moral lessons they could convey to contemporary audiences.
Artist & collection
Artist
Karl von Blaas (28 April 1815 – 19 March 1894) was an Austrian painter known for his portraits and religious compositions executed on canvas as well as in the form of frescoes.
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