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a painting of a man riding on the back of a horsean oil painting of a man on a horse with a red capean old wooden window frame with four panes of glass in it
Dams Casa d'Aste

33 - Warrior on Horseback, French School, 17th century, oil on ca…
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Estimate €3,000 - €5,000
Sale commission
Description
Warrior on Horseback, French School, 17th century, oil on canvas, 120 x 90 cm Depicted in half-length portrait, the warrior wears elaborate armour in the classical style and is draped in a large red cloak which, with its vigorous diagonal movement, lends the composition a strong sense of theatrical dynamism. The bearded face, captured in an intense and focused expression, is modelled by a raking light that emphasises its monumental character, whilst the skilful balance between the figure and the broad drapery behind him reveals a refined sense of scenography.In terms of its compositional approach, the monumentality of the figure and the use of light, the painting fits squarely within 17th-century French figurative art, showing significant affinities with the style developed by Charles Le Brun (1619–1690). In particular, the protagonist’s firm posture, the emphasis placed on the drapery, the taste for theatricality and the attention to the expressiveness of the face recall approaches frequently adopted by the French master in his grand historical and celebratory compositions, as well as in works intended for the decoration of royal residences.The pictorial quality is particularly high. The face is rendered through a refined chiaroscuro, whilst the treatment of the drapery—characterised by broad swathes of colour and a careful rendering of light—bears witness to the hand of an artist of considerable technical skill, fully versed in the style of French Classicism of the second half of the seventeenth century.The work has been reduced in size on all four sides compared to its original format, a circumstance which suggests that it was originally a fragment of a larger composition. The loss of the peripheral portions of the canvas does not, however, compromise the expressive power of the main figure, which retains its monumentality and dramatic impact intact.In terms of its execution and stylistic characteristics, the painting represents an interesting example of 17th-century French painting, attributable to the cultural circle that developed around Charles Le Brun and the golden age of court painting during the reign of Louis XIV. Framed.
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About the sale Paintings and Drawings from the 15th to the 19th century
Auction location
Auction time 10/29/2026 at 3:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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