Artwork
The Victory of Alexander over Porus
The Victory of Alexander over Porus is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Charles André van Loo. It dates from 1738 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Charles André van Loo’s oil on canvas, painted in 1738, portrays the climactic moment of Alexander’s triumph over Porus. The work is part of the collection at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where it remains on display.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a mounted rider in a red cloak and blue helmet, his white horse charging amid a chaotic battlefield. Surrounding soldiers and fallen combatants suggest the intensity of the encounter, while distant palm trees and a cloud‑streaked sky frame the scene.
Technique & Style
Van Loo employs a dynamic arrangement of figures, emphasizing movement through diagonal lines and contrasting light and shadow. The detailed rendering of armor and textiles showcases a meticulous approach, while the vivid palette heightens the dramatic tension of the moment.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑18th century, the painting eventually entered the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s holdings. Its provenance prior to acquisition by LACMA is not extensively documented, but the work has been recognized as a representative example of van Loo’s historical canvases.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Carle or Charles-André van Loo (French pronunciation: ; 15 February 1705 – 15 July 1765) was a French painter, son of the painter Louis-Abraham van Loo, a younger brother of Jean-Baptiste van Loo and grandson of Jacob van Loo.
