Artwork
Charge
Charge is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Robert Ker, Sir Porter. It dates from 1803 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1803, this pen‑and‑tusche lithograph titled *Charge* is attributed to Sir Robert Ker Porter. The print captures a moment of high‑speed combat, rendered in stark contrasts that emphasize movement and tension. Its composition centers on a mounted figure thrusting a sword forward, while surrounding characters react to the unfolding clash.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a cavalryman in a long coat and hat, caught mid‑gallop as his horse leaps over a rugged outcrop. A fallen combatant lies in the foreground, and another onlooker stands to the right, observing the violent thrust. The scene conveys the immediacy of battle, highlighting bravery and the chaotic energy of a charge.
Technique & Style
Porter employed pen and tusche on a lithographic stone, a method that allows fine line work combined with rich, dark washes. The bold outlines and deep shading create a dramatic chiaroscuro, characteristic of Romantic visual language that emphasizes emotion and dynamic action over precise realism.
History & Provenance
The work dates to the early nineteenth century, a period when Porter, a noted painter and diplomat, explored printmaking alongside his larger canvases. *Charge* was likely produced for a limited audience interested in military subjects, reflecting contemporary fascination with heroic warfare during the Napoleonic era.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
