Piotr Michałowski (1800 - 1855), Battle scene with the Napoleonic army

Watercolor, paper; 8 x 16.5 cm;
Signed p. d.: "P. Michałowski"

Provenance:
Private collection, Austria

Bibliography:
Ostrowski J. K., Piotr Michałowski , Krajowa Agencja Wydawnicza, Warsaw 1985.

" [...] Piotr Michałowski, an amateur artist and brave statesman, will not be forgotten. His charges of lancers, his melees have the energy of drawing, combined with truth, and that bravura of the brush, which probably can be compared with the French Gericault. [...]".
Wojciech Korneli Stattler
The elaborate battle scenes executed in watercolor are rare among the publicly available works of Piotr Michałowski. In addition, the work is signed, which, given the fact that the artist was extremely sparing in putting his name on his works, makes it a collector's rarity. The dynamic composition depicts powerful armies clashing with each other in a fierce battle. Clearly emphasized is the foreground with figures of soldiers on horses and stronger color patches of red, white, blue. In the background of the composition, the figures blend together, emphasizing the bravado of the skirmish. Using boldly laid down layers of color, Michalowski masterfully created a full-scale composition in his favorite subject. The artist was not concerned with realistically depicting the course of the battle. In this painting a large role is played by expression and superbly conveyed tension in the unfolding genre scene.
Piotr Michałowski is considered the most outstanding Polish Romantic painter. He most often depicted Napoleonic wars, soldier portraits or horse studies in his works. He was also known as a devoted patriot and public servant. Interestingly, he treated painting as a great passion, which he developed if only during his stay in Paris at Charlet's studio. It was not intended to be a source of income, so he generally did not exhibit or date his works. It was a great love of art and an uncommon talent, however, that led the artist to be enshrined in the canon of the most outstanding.