1847
oil
canvas
From the collection of Brooklyn Museum
Prairie on Fire is a 1847 oil by Charles Deas, a Hudson River School Movement work, held at Brooklyn Museum.
This painting depicts a dramatic scene of a horse and rider in distress, with the horse rearing up on its hind legs as the rider clings to its back. The horse's white coat is illuminated against the dark, fiery background of a prairie on fire. In the foreground, the rider's red shirt and the horse's brown saddle stand out amidst the flames. The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of tension and drama, with the contrast between light and dark emphasizing the urgency of the scene. The brushstrokes are bold and expressive, adding to the overall sense of energy and movement. To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, explore the technique of chiaroscuro.
Charles Deas (December 22, 1818 – March 23, 1867) was an American painter noted for his oil paintings of Native Americans and fur trappers of the mid-19th century.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
