Artwork
A Dragoon on Horseback
A Dragoon on Horseback is an oil painting by Édouard Detaille. It dates from 1888 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The oil paint is applied in a realistic academic style, emphasizing the anatomical detail of the horse and the crisp rendering of the soldier's uniform.
The work titled A Dragoon on Horseback, painted by Édouard Detaille in 1888, is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel (24.1 × 13.7 cm). The oil paint is applied in a realistic academic style, emphasizing the anatomical detail of the horse and the crisp rendering of the soldier's uniform. The composition functions as an equestrian portrait, presenting the rider in a poised, forward-leaning stance that conveys motion and authority.
The brushwork is fine and controlled, producing subtle tonal transitions that model form, with a balanced spatial arrangement and a muted palette that accentuates the metallic accents of the uniform.
History & Provenance
A Dragoon on Horseback was painted by Édouard Detaille in 1888. Executed in oil on panel, the composition measures 24.1 × 13.7 cm and depicts a mounted cavalry officer in the equestrian portrait genre. Detaille's authorship is confirmed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection database, which lists the painting among its holdings.
The museum acquired the work, and no earlier owners or sale records are noted in the available sources.
Overview
Édouard Detaille, a French academic artist, completed A Dragoon on Horseback in 1888. This oil painting presents a single soldier mounted on a horse, a characteristic subject for Detaille, who was recognized for his meticulous and lifelike depictions of military life. The work is currently part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a key aspect of the artist's output.
Subject & Meaning
The painting centers on a dragoon, a cavalry soldier, seated upright on a dark horse, firmly grasping the reins. This focus on military personnel and equestrian subjects was central to Detaille's practice, earning him recognition as a chronicler of the French army. The artwork encapsulates his dedication to portraying the individual soldier within the broader context of military life and tradition.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Baptiste Édouard Detaille (French pronunciation:; 5 October 1848 – 23 December 1912) was a French academic painter and military artist noted for his precision and realistic detail.
