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The Canon Ready to Fire

Hippolyte Lecomte

1817

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century Landscape

Dominant colour

The Canon Ready to Fire is a 1817 by Hippolyte Lecomte, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Hippolyte Lecomte
When & what style?: 1817 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This print shows a small military scene in a wooded area. A cannon sits on a cart, aimed down a dirt path. Soldiers are scattered around—some standing, some crouched near tents, and others working nearby. Trees and bushes fill the background, with a hill rising in the distance. The title says this is about a "canon ready to fire," so the focus isn’t just the landscape but the moment before action. The artist used simple lines and shading to create depth, making the scene feel quiet yet tense. Look up Romanticism next to see how this style often mixed nature with drama.

About the artist

Artist

Hippolyte Lecomte

Hippolyte Lecomte (French pronunciation: ; 28 December 1781, Puiseaux – 25 July 1857, Paris) was a French painter best known for large scale historical paintings and ballet designs.

See the richer artist page