Artwork
Cavalry Charge with Soldiers and Horses Trampled
Cavalry Charge with Soldiers and Horses Trampled is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Antonio Tempesta. It dates from 1592 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Antonio Tempesta’s 1592 etching titled *Cavalry Charge with Soldiers and Horses Trampled* captures a tumultuous battlefield where riders and foot soldiers are intermingled with fallen steeds. The composition is dense with movement, presenting a snapshot of combat that feels both immediate and chaotic, inviting the viewer to trace the tangled lines of conflict.
Subject & Meaning
The print portrays a cavalry assault gone awry, with mounted troops colliding amid a mass of downed horses and scattered infantry. The disorder suggests the brutal reality of close‑quarters warfare, emphasizing the vulnerability of both horse and rider and hinting at the broader human cost of such engagements.
Technique & Style
Executed in etching, Tempesta employs a network of swift, gestural lines to suggest motion and tension. The economy of line creates a sense of depth while maintaining a vigorous energy, reflecting the artist’s skill in rendering complex scenes with relatively simple graphic means.
History & Provenance
Tempesta, known as il Tempestino, worked at the crossroads of Roman Baroque sensibilities and the printmaking traditions of Antwerp. His oeuvre frequently revisits historic battles and notable personalities, and this 1592 plate exemplifies his penchant for dynamic, narrative-driven prints that circulated widely in the late‑16th century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Antonio Tempesta, also called il Tempestino (1555 – 5 August 1630), was an Italian painter and engraver, whose art acted as a point of connection between Baroque Rome and the culture of Antwerp.
