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Cavalry on a Campaign

Pietro Graziani

Basic information

ID: Ж-826
Author: Pietro Graziani
Name: Cavalry on a Campaign
Date of creation: 18th c.
Country: Italy
Technique: oil painting
Material: canvas oil

Additionally

Type: painting
Genre: battle painting
Plot: Battle
Provenance: Collection of Lviv City Gallery

Information about author

Author: Pietro Graziani
Country: Italy
Biography: Pietro Graziani was a little-known Neapolitan battle painter who most likely worked in the first half of the 18th century. Two battle artists, Francesco and Pietro, named Graziani, often misidentified as one person, are mentioned in primary sources, particularly in Bernardo de Dominici's biographies. It is unknown when Pietro was born or how he spent his life. However, according to de Dominici, he was Francesco's nephew and created masterful battle paintings. Small-format battle scenes executed in a sketchy manner, which are usually mistakenly registered as the works by "Ciccio da Capua" in the 18th- and 19th-century inventories, are currently credited to his authorship. The few surviving works show that the artist developed an expressive and colouristic painting style. Unfortunately, its evolution is difficult to trace due to the lack of documentary evidence and accurately dated works.

Object description

The small canvas "Cavalry on a Campaign" is one of the few works attributed to the master. The painting represents the imaginary attack of the cavalry against the background of a skilfully depicted landscape. A group of Reiters is shown in the foreground. Behind them, other horse riders have already rushed into a battle. The composition is made in a sketchy pastose manner and bright colours. The battle genre was prevalent in the 17th- and 18th-century Neapolitan painting. Battle scenes were in great demand among collectors from all social strata. They emphasised the significance of heroic deeds that demonstrated patriotism and military valour.

Legal regulation

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery

Cavalry on a Campaign

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