The Wounded Cuirassier (French: Le Cuirassier blessé quittant le feu) is an oil painting of a single anonymous soldier descending a slope with his nervous horse by the French Romantic painter and lithographerThéodore Géricault (1791–1824). In this 1814 Salon entry, Géricault decided to turn away from scenes of heroism in favor of a subject that is on the losing side of the battle. On display in the aftermath of France's disastrous military campaign in Russia, this life-size painting captured the feeling of a nation in defeat.[1] There are no visible wounds on the figure, and the title has sometimes been interpreted to refer to soldier's injured pride.[2] The painting stood in stark contrast with Géricault's Charging Chasseur, as it didn't focus on glory or the spectacle of battle. Only his Signboard of a Hoofsmith, which is currently in a private collection, bears any resemblance in form or function to this painting.[3]
Théodore Géricault was born in Rouen, France in 1791 and studied art in the classroom from a young age. He went on to study in Paris where he created his first major work, The Charging Chasseur, for the Paris Salon of 1812. His next major Salon submission was The Wounded Cuirassier in 1814.
In the months before the exhibition, Paris fell to the sixth coalition and Napoleon was defeated and exiled from France. After The Wounded Cuirassier received a negative response from critics, Géricault entered a long period of artistic study, and in 1816 he left France to find inspiration in Rome.[4]
Creationedit
Géricault rushed to make The Wounded Cuirassier in only three weeks and created five separate sketches and drafts before the final version. Perhaps as a result of its hurried production, the message of the painting was not entirely clear to critics.[5]
Style and Compositionedit
Géricault uses a similar style and technique to his previous works, yet his approach to battle painting was unique in the period. He elected not to show a wound on the soldier, perhaps suggesting to viewers that the wound is internal and extends to the nation. The soldier and horse are shown in a tense and vulnerable state; the soldier uses his sword as a sort of crutch. Géricault also used the horse to convey emotion. In The Wounded Cuirassier, he uses the horse's facial expressions and uneasy footing to emphasize the unsteadiness and terror of the soldier.[1]
Cuirassier blessé quittant le feu at the Louvre official site (in French)
Referencesedit
^ abCrow, Thomas E. Restoration: the Fall of Napoleon in the Course of European Art 1812-1820. Princeton University Press, 2018.
^“The Wounded Cuirassier, Study (Le Cuirassier Blessé Quittant Le Feu, Esquisse).” Brooklyn Museum.
^Eitner, Lorenz (August 1954). "Géricault's Wounded Cuirassier". The Burlington Magazine. Vol. 96 no. 617. pp. 236–238.
^“Géricault, Jean Louis André Théodore.” Benezit Dictionary of Artists, 2011.
^Johnson, Lee. "Some Unknown Sketches for the 'Wounded Cuirassier' and a Subject Identified." The Burlington Magazine 97, no. 624 (1955): 78-83.
January 01, 1970
wounded, cuirassier, french, cuirassier, blessé, quittant, painting, single, anonymous, soldier, descending, slope, with, nervous, horse, french, romantic, painter, lithographer, théodore, géricault, 1791, 1824, this, 1814, salon, entry, géricault, decided, tu. The Wounded Cuirassier French Le Cuirassier blesse quittant le feu is an oil painting of a single anonymous soldier descending a slope with his nervous horse by the French Romantic painter and lithographer Theodore Gericault 1791 1824 In this 1814 Salon entry Gericault decided to turn away from scenes of heroism in favor of a subject that is on the losing side of the battle On display in the aftermath of France s disastrous military campaign in Russia this life size painting captured the feeling of a nation in defeat 1 There are no visible wounds on the figure and the title has sometimes been interpreted to refer to soldier s injured pride 2 The painting stood in stark contrast with Gericault s Charging Chasseur as it didn t focus on glory or the spectacle of battle Only his Signboard of a Hoofsmith which is currently in a private collection bears any resemblance in form or function to this painting 3 The Wounded CuirassierFrench Le Cuirassier blesse quittant le feuArtistTheodore GericaultYear1814MediumOil on canvasDimensions358 cm 294 cm 141 in 116 in LocationMusee du Louvre in Paris and Brooklyn Museum in New York City The final salon version of The Wounded Cuirassier is at the Musee du Louvre and the smaller study version is located at the Brooklyn Museum Contents 1 Artist and Setting 2 Creation 3 Style and Composition 4 External links 5 ReferencesArtist and Setting editTheodore Gericault was born in Rouen France in 1791 and studied art in the classroom from a young age He went on to study in Paris where he created his first major work The Charging Chasseur for the Paris Salon of 1812 His next major Salon submission was The Wounded Cuirassier in 1814 In the months before the exhibition Paris fell to the sixth coalition and Napoleon was defeated and exiled from France After The Wounded Cuirassier received a negative response from critics Gericault entered a long period of artistic study and in 1816 he left France to find inspiration in Rome 4 Creation editGericault rushed to make The Wounded Cuirassier in only three weeks and created five separate sketches and drafts before the final version Perhaps as a result of its hurried production the message of the painting was not entirely clear to critics 5 Style and Composition editGericault uses a similar style and technique to his previous works yet his approach to battle painting was unique in the period He elected not to show a wound on the soldier perhaps suggesting to viewers that the wound is internal and extends to the nation The soldier and horse are shown in a tense and vulnerable state the soldier uses his sword as a sort of crutch Gericault also used the horse to convey emotion In The Wounded Cuirassier he uses the horse s facial expressions and uneasy footing to emphasize the unsteadiness and terror of the soldier 1 External links editThe Wounded Cuirassier at the Brooklyn Museum website Cuirassier blesse quittant le feu at the Louvre official site in French References edit a b Crow Thomas E Restoration the Fall of Napoleon in the Course of European Art 1812 1820 Princeton University Press 2018 The Wounded Cuirassier Study Le Cuirassier Blesse Quittant Le Feu Esquisse Brooklyn Museum Eitner Lorenz August 1954 Gericault s Wounded Cuirassier The Burlington Magazine Vol 96 no 617 pp 236 238 Gericault Jean Louis Andre Theodore Benezit Dictionary of Artists 2011 Johnson Lee Some Unknown Sketches for the Wounded Cuirassier and a Subject Identified The Burlington Magazine 97 no 624 1955 78 83 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Wounded Cuirassier amp oldid 1217646346, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
