Follower of Esteban March (1610–1660) ‘War scene’

Oil on canvas. The work is a fine example of the Baroque battle genre, strongly influenced by the work of the Valencian master, famous for his dynamic equestrian battles. In the foreground of the composition, a violent cavalry clash is depicted, featuring a horseman charging with his lance from a spirited chestnut horse, whilst on the ground lies a fallen soldier attempting to defend himself with his sword near a runaway black steed. In the background on the right, the battle continues with a tumult of swirling soldiers, horsemen in foreshortening and red flags fluttering in the wind beneath the silhouette of a distant fortification. The drama of the scene is accentuated by an atmosphere of thick clouds of smoke and dust covering the sky, rendered through a palette of predominantly earthy, ochre and chestnut tones, combined with a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. A remarkable work from the 18th-century Spanish School that exemplifies the fascination of the Valencian Baroque with dynamic depictions of cavalry combat.

Size: 84.5 x 112.5 cm; Size with frame: 93 x 121 cm