Offered by Antichità Castelbarco
Antonio Calza (Verona, 1653 – Verona 1725)
Battle between Christian and Turkish cavalry
Oil on canvas 47 x 85 cm In frame 66 x 105 cm
Here we see a fierce battle between Christian and Turkish cavalry characterised by remarkable dynamism and expressive power.
The two sides are in the heat of battle, while lifeless bodies and wounded horses lie on the ground, along with scattered weapons and a drum, heightening the drama of the clash.
These elements, combined with the intense colour palette, careful attention to lighting and decisive, dramatic brushwork, suggest that the work is by Antonio Calza (Verona, 1653 – 18 April 1725), one of the most influential battle painters of the 17th century.
In Rome, he became a pupil and then one of the best followers of Jacques Courtois il Borgognone (Saint-Hyppolite 1621 – Rome 1676), between the end of the 17th and the first quarter of the 18th century. Although he assimilated his master's teachings, he developed a personal style based mainly on the unmistakable dynamic development of the narrative and lively, bright colours, characterised by bright reds and blues.
Although smaller in size, we can find in the work in question the distinctive stylistic features of Calza's painting, in particular figures and details that recur in his battles and can be implicitly considered his signature. In this regard, it is easy to compare the painting in question with those in his body of work, collected by Giancarlo Sestieri in his essay “Pittori di battaglie, maestri italiani e stranieri del XVII e XVIII secolo” (Battle painters, Italian and foreign masters of the 17th and 18th centuries), from which we have selected a few works that we present below (the relevant illustrations are shown in detail):
Battle with Trumpeter and Drummer, 97x124.5 cm, Verona, Castelvecchio Museum
Battle between Christians and Turks in front of a Fortress, Rome, Antique Market, 1940s
Clash of armoured knights, 65 x 81 cm. Venice, private collection
Battle between Christian and Turkish cavalry in front of a square tower, 80 x 103 cm. Bergamo, private collection
Battle between Christian and Turkish cavalry, 93 x 122.5 cm. Ljubljana, Narodna Galerija
Battle between Christians and Turks in front of a burning city, 99 x 128 cm. Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum
Among the typical elements, the frequent towers are undoubtedly significant, contributing to the setting of the compositions and, together with clouds and black smoke, creating a sort of stage presence around the space of the battle.
The painter often introduces a horse on the ground, of which we see only the rear, a trick to involve the viewer, making them active and part of the scene. Similarly, the lifeless bodies that the painter depicts in the foreground are often positioned face down with their heads turned towards the viewer.
Finally, a detail present in many of Calza's canvases is a drum, placed in the foreground, overturned and abandoned.
Delevery information :
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Should you have the desire to see this or other works in person, we would be happy to welcome you to our gallery in Riva del Garda, Viale Giuseppe Canella 18, we are always open by appointment only.
