Artwork

La Escuadra en el canal Privado del Paso de la Patria, 23 de abril de 1866

La Escuadra en el canal Privado del Paso de la Patria, 23 de abril de 1866 is an oil painting by Luis Candido Lopez. It dates from 1881 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina.

About this work

Overview

Luis Cándido López’s oil on canvas, titled *La Escuadra en el canal Privado del Paso de la Patria, 23 de abril de 1866*, was executed circa 1881. The work belongs to the collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires and records a moment from the Paraguayan War in which the artist himself participated as a soldier.

Subject & Meaning

The composition portrays a tranquil stretch of water traversed by a squadron of vessels, each bearing national flags that punctuate the subdued colour scheme. A thin ribbon of shoreline, dotted with trees and shrubs, anchors the scene, suggesting a peaceful landscape that contrasts with the conflict underlying the depicted date.

Technique & Style

Rendered in oil, López employs layered glazing to achieve atmospheric depth and a tactile surface. The naïve aesthetic, characteristic of his self‑taught background, simplifies forms while preserving a sense of space, allowing the viewer’s eye to move from the flag‑adorned ships to the distant horizon.

History & Provenance

Created several years after the events it illustrates, the painting reflects López’s personal recollection of the April 23, 1866 naval engagement. It entered the National Museum of Fine Arts’ holdings in the early 20th century, where it has remained a documented example of Argentine war‑time art.

Artist & collection

Artist

Luis Candido Lopez

Cándido López (29 August 1840 – 31 December 1902) was an Argentine soldier and painter who worked in the Naïve style. He is best known for his historical scenes from the Paraguayan War in which he fought.

Museum

National Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina

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