Artwork
Cavalry Battle near a River
Cavalry Battle near a River is an ink drawing by the Baroque artist Charles Parrocel. It dates from 1720 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Cavalry Battle near a River is a drawing created by Charles Parrocel in 1720, executed in pen, brown ink, and brown wash on laid paper. It depicts a chaotic scene of a cavalry engagement in proximity to a river.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing captures the intense moment of a cavalry battle, with horses and riders dispersed, some in downfall. The emphasis is on conveying the turmoil and dynamic energy of the combat.
Technique & Style
Parrocel employed bold lines and expressive brushstrokes with pen and brown ink, augmented by brown wash, to achieve a textured and depthful representation on laid paper.
History & Provenance
Charles Parrocel, trained by his father Joseph, Bon Boullogne, and Charles de La Fosse, and influenced by his 1713-1716 sojourn in Italy as an Academy pensioner, created this work in 1720.
Context
This drawing aligns with the Baroque movement's dramatic and dynamic depictions of movement and energy, characteristic of Parrocel's known genre of history and battle scene paintings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Parrocel was a French painter and engraver and a specialist in battle and hunt paintings.
