1896
oil
canvas
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
The Advance-Guard, or The Military Sacrifice (The Ambush) is a 1896 oil by Frederic Remington, held at Art Institute of Chicago.
This painting shows two men on horseback, riding through a desert landscape. One man is in the foreground, wearing a blue shirt and pants, with a rifle slung over his back. The other man is in the background, holding a rifle and wearing a black shirt. The scene is set against a backdrop of rocky hills and a clear blue sky. The horses are depicted in motion, with their legs extended as they gallop across the desert floor. The painting's colors are muted, with shades of brown and beige dominating the palette. The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and drama in the scene. The contrast between light and dark adds tension to the image, drawing the viewer's eye to the figures in the foreground. For more on this technique, look up chiaroscuro.
Frederic Sackrider Remington was an American painter, illustrator, sculptor, and writer who specialized in the genre of Western American Art.
See the richer artist page
