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Oil on canvas, 17th century
Circle of Francesco Allegrini da Gubbio (1587–1663)
171 × 110 cm – Antique black and gilt frame
A dense front of cavalry and infantry advances diagonally across a barren ground, amid dust and the clang of arms. On the left, the commander on a white horse leads the charge beneath a great red banner; at the center, a bicolored standard balances the composition, while in the foreground fallen soldiers and abandoned armor testify to the harshness of the clash. In the distance, along the sandy ridge, another line of cavalry unfolds, with a castle looming above in the haze of battle.
The deliberately anachronistic combination of armaments – plumed helmets, classical-style cuirasses and round shields alongside 17th-century morions and pikes – reflects the Baroque invention of the “battle all’antica”, a genre that does not seek to depict who is fighting whom, but rather the very idea of war and heroism: not the chronicle, but the timeless epic. The scene thus becomes a theatre of dust, iron and standards, offering the viewer a universal image of conflict and the courage of commanders.
The composition is distinguished by clear light with cavalry in backlight, by the sharp drawing of well-defined figures, and by the theatrical staging built on wide diagonals: banners cutting the air like stage wings, restless horses, shifting masses and fallen men that give rhythm to the foreground. The dry, honey-toned landscape and the metallic gleam of the armor ignite the scene with striking effect.
The canvas, relined in the past, shows a diffuse craquelure and, in the darker areas, alterations due to the oxidation of bistre, a typical phenomenon of bituminous pigments. The black and gilt frame, in 17th-century taste, soberly underlines the dramatic force of the subject.
An artwork of strong decorative impact, clear and rhythmical, combining concitazione and legibility in an epic tension still capable today of bringing energy and character to a study, an entrance hall or a grand interior.
- Material: Oil on canvas
- Size: cm 171 x 110
- Condition: Restored
- Period: 17th century
- Style: Baroque
- State: Excellent conditions
