Artwork
The Battle of St. Gotthard 1664

The Battle of St. Gotthard 1664 is an oil painting by the Biedermeier artist Karl von Blaas. It dates from 1865 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 St. Gotthard 1664* in 1865. The work belongs to the Biedermeier period and is part of the collection of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas portrays a 17th‑century battlefield, focusing on a group of cavalrymen in period dress. One rider gestures forward while the horses display a range of motion, from calm stances to rearing poses, conveying the immediacy of combat and the tension of the historic encounter.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting employs a restrained Biedermeier palette and careful modelling of light and shadow to enhance three‑dimensionality. Detailed rendering of uniforms, hats, and weaponry, combined with a cloudy sky and distant hills, creates depth and a subtle dramatic atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Since its creation in the mid‑19th century, the work has remained in Austria, ultimately entering the holdings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s representation of historical genre painting.
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.



















