Battle Between Cavalries, Antonio Calza (verona, 1653 – Verona, 1725)

Antonio Calza (Verona, 1653 – Verona, 1725) - Battle Between Christian and Turkish Cavalry

Oil on canvas (47 x 85 cm. - Framed: 66 x 105 cm.)

Full details (click HERE)

Here we see a fierce battle between Christian and Turkish cavalry, characterized by striking dynamism and expressive power; the two sides are in the thick of the fight, while lifeless bodies and wounded horses lie on the ground, along with scattered weapons and a drum that heighten the drama of the clash.

These elements, combined with the intense color palette—sensitive to lighting conditions—and the bold, dramatic brushwork, suggest an attribution to Antonio Calza (Verona, 1653 – April 18, 1725), one of the most influential battle painters of the 17th century.

In Rome, he became a student and later one of the foremost followers of Jacques Courtois the Burgundian (Saint-Hyppolite 1621 – Rome 1676), between the late 17th century and the first quarter of the 18th century; while assimilating his master’s teachings, he nevertheless developed a personal style, based primarily on the unmistakable dynamic progression of the narrative and on a vivid, bright color palette characterized by striking reds and blues.

Although smaller in size, the work in question exhibits the distinctive stylistic traits of Calza’s painting, particularly figures and details that recur in his battle scenes and can be implicitly regarded as his signature.

In this regard, it is easy to compare the painting in question with those in his body of work, compiled by Giancarlo Sestieri in the essay “Battle Painters: Italian and Foreign Masters of the 17th and 18th Centuries,” from which we have selected a few works presented below (the corresponding illustrations are shown in the details):
- Battle with a Bugler and a Drummer, 97 x 124.5 cm, Verona, Castelvecchio Museum
- Battle Between Christians and Turks Before a Fortress, Rome, Antiques Market of the 1940s
- Clash of Armored Knights, 65 x 81 cm. Venice, Private Collection
- Battle of Christian and Turkish Cavalry Before 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; they help set the scene for the compositions and, together with clouds and black smoke, create a sort of dramatic presence around the battlefield.

The painter often includes a fallen horse, of which we see only the rear end—a device designed to draw the viewer in, making them an active participant in the scene. Similarly, the lifeless bodies that the painter depicts in the foreground are often positioned face-down with their heads turned toward the viewer.

Finally, a detail present in many of Calza’s canvases is a drum, placed in the foreground, overturned and abandoned.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

In good condition, complete with a gilded frame.

The work is sold complete with a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic sheet.

We handle and arrange the shipping of purchased works, both within Italy and internationally, using professional and insured carriers. You can also view the painting at our gallery in Riva del Garda; we would be delighted to welcome you and show you our collection of artworks.

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