Artwork
Cuirassiers Charging an Artillery Battery
Cuirassiers Charging an Artillery Battery is a print by the Romanticist artist Théodore Géricault. It dates from 1823 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1823 by French artist Théodore Géricault, this lithographic print captures a moment of intense military action. The composition centers on a line of heavily armored cavalry—cuirassiers—advancing toward an opposing artillery battery. The work is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies Géricault’s brief but impactful contribution to early Romantic visual culture.
Subject & Meaning
The image portrays a chaotic battlefield where mounted troops, their horses rearing, surge forward against a line of cannons. The emphasis on motion and confrontation reflects Romantic interests in drama, heroism, and the visceral experience of war, inviting viewers to sense the tension between the disciplined charge and the looming firepower of the artillery.
Technique & Style
Executed as a print, the piece relies on strong contrasts of light and dark, a hallmark of chiaroscuro, to model the muscular forms of the horses and the gleam of the cuirassiers’ armor. Bold, gestural strokes convey the kinetic energy of the scene, while the limited tonal range typical of lithography heightens the sense of immediacy.
History & Provenance
Géricault produced this work during the early phase of his career, a period marked by rapid artistic development before his untimely death at thirty‑two. After changing hands among private collectors, the print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains accessible for study and public viewing.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Louis André Théodore Géricault (French: ; 26 September 1791 – 26 January 1824) was a French painter and lithographer.
