Who painted French Troops before Salins and the Surrounding Hills?

French Troops before Salins and the Surrounding Hills was painted by Adam Frans van der Meulen in 1669.

Where can I see French Troops before Salins and the Surrounding Hills?

French Troops before Salins and the Surrounding Hills is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is French Troops before Salins and the Surrounding Hills?

French Troops before Salins and the Surrounding Hills is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

French Troops before Salins and the Surrounding Hills

Adam Frans van der Meulen , 1669

French Troops before Salins and the Surrounding Hills is a chalk drawing by the Baroque artist Adam Frans van der Meulen. It dates from 1669 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1669, this drawing by Adam Frans van der Meulen portrays a French military column before the fortified town of Salins. Executed on two joined sheets of laid paper, the composition is rendered primarily in red chalk, with a preliminary black‑chalk underdrawing that guides the final marks.

Subject & Meaning

The scene shows cavalry and infantry advancing across a level plain toward a backdrop of jagged hills beyond Salins. The arrangement emphasizes the orderly movement of troops and the strategic position of the town within its surrounding terrain, reflecting the artist’s intent to document a military episode.

Technique & Style

Van der Meulen employed a red‑chalk overlay on a black‑chalk sketch, a common preparatory method for larger works such as tapestries. The paper bears incised lines for transfer and a faint grid, indicating a quick, schematic approach. The drawing’s linearity and restrained shading align with the pragmatic, documentary style of Baroque military art.

History & Provenance

The work originates from the artist’s service to Louis XIV, where he regularly produced visual records of French victories. As a preparatory study, it likely informed a subsequent, more elaborate composition or tapestry commissioned by the royal court.

Context

During the late 17th century, French expansion under Louis XIV was frequently celebrated through visual propaganda. Van der Meulen’s drawings functioned as both archival material and as models for decorative programs that reinforced the king’s military achievements.

Northern Landscape Fantasy Evoking Tivoli, Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem

Artist & collection

Artist

Adam Frans van der Meulen

Adam Frans van der Meulen or Adam-François van der Meulen (11 January 1632 – 15 October 1690) was a Flemish painter and draughtsman who was particularly known for his scenes of military campaigns and conquests.