Artwork
Battle of Borodino on 26 August (7 September) 1812
Battle of Borodino on 26 August (7 September) 1812 is an oil painting by the German Romanticist artist Peter von Hess. It dates from 1843 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Peter von Hess’s 1843 oil canvas records the 1812 Battle of Borodino, a pivotal clash in the Napoleonic Wars. Executed in the German Romantic tradition, the work belongs to the history‑painting genre and is presently part of the State Hermitage Museum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a tumultuous battlefield strewn with fallen and wounded combatants, cavalry in period uniforms, and a plume of smoke rising over a wooded, hilly landscape. By emphasizing the chaos and human cost, the painting conveys the brutal reality of war rather than glorifying victory.
Technique & Style
Von Hess employs a vigorous brushwork and a palette of muted earth tones punctuated by flashes of white and red on uniforms, creating depth and movement. The Romantic emphasis on dramatic lighting and atmospheric effects heightens the sense of immediacy and emotional intensity.
History & Provenance
Completed in 1843, the canvas was acquired by the Russian Imperial collection and later transferred to the State Hermitage Museum, where it remains on public display. Its presence in a major national institution reflects the 19th‑century interest in documenting historic military episodes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Peter Heinrich Lambert von Hess (29 July 1792 – 4 April 1871) was a German painter, known for historic paintings, especially of the Napoleonic Wars and the Greek War of Independence.
