Artwork
Prisión del condestable de Montmorency, en la Batalla de San Quintín
Prisión del condestable de Montmorency, en la Batalla de San Quintín is an oil painting. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. The oil painting portrays a tumultuous battlefield, crowded with mounted combatants and infantry.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a battle scene, the composition features soldiers engaged in combat, identifiable by the presence of body armor and combat helmets.
The work is a history painting depicting the capture of the Constable of Montmorency during the Battle of San Quentin. As a battle scene, the composition features soldiers engaged in combat, identifiable by the presence of body armor and combat helmets. A flag is also included among the depicted elements, serving as a focal point within the chaotic melee.
Functioning as a copy of an original by Luca Giordano, the painting represents a specific historical moment of military conflict. The inclusion of martial equipment and the dynamic arrangement of figures emphasize the violence and immediacy of the arrest, preserving the narrative of this significant 16th-century event through the lens of early 18th-century artistic interpretation.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, measuring 50.4 cm by 167.6 cm. It portrays a figure in body armor, a combat helmet and a flag, reflecting a history painting genre with a battle scene. The composition follows the style of Luca Giordano, whose copy resides in the Museo del Prado, where the piece is held.
History & Provenance
Created in 1700, this oil on canvas work is a copy of an original painting by Luca Giordano. The piece depicts the capture of the Constable of Montmorency during the Battle of Saint-Quentin, featuring details such as body armor, combat helmets, and flags. It is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it is classified as a battle painting.
No further details regarding its specific commission, earlier ownership history, or the circumstances of its creation beyond its status as a derivative work are provided in the available records.
The painting is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Created around 1700, the work is an oil on canvas measuring 50.4 cm in height and 167.6 cm in width. It functions as a copy of an earlier composition by Luca Giordano depicting the Battle of San Quintín.
The provided sources confirm its current location and physical attributes but do not contain specific inventory accession numbers or a record of past exhibitions.
Overview
The oil painting portrays a tumultuous battlefield, crowded with mounted combatants and infantry. Horses are shown in varied motion, some rearing, others collapsing, while armored figures clutch weapons and standards. The foreground is densely packed with tangled bodies, whereas the distant sky is rendered with minimal detail, emphasizing the immediacy of the conflict.
Context
The battle depicted was a decisive encounter during the Italian Wars, in which French forces suffered a severe defeat. The painting reflects contemporary interest in documenting military events and the fate of prominent commanders, serving both as a visual record and a moral illustration of the costs of war.
Artist & collection
Prisión del condestable de Montmorency, en la Batalla de San Quintín
Batalla de San Quintín
Legendary Battle of the Torriani and Visconti - the Capture
The taking of a stronghold
Henry IV at the Battle of Ivry, 14 March 1590
Gefecht zwischen österreichischen und schwedischen Truppen
Heroism and Humanity
The Battle of Cadore
Battle
