Oil On Canvas, *knight On The Battlefield* By Cécilio Pizzaro

Cécilio PIZZARO 1818–1886

Spanish painter, draftsman, and engraver. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Toledo and later continued his studies in Madrid.
His talent was quickly recognized, first in his hometown of Toledo, where he won several medals at the Salon.

He worked for newspapers and created theater sets. He painted landscapes, still lifes, and historical portraits alike, such as the one here, dated 1842. In the 1850s, he specialized in drawing and engraving.

Highly prolific and talented, he was quickly recognized by critics and sought after by collectors. Pizarro’s paintings remind us of the universality of art.
His brushwork is uniquely his own, yet so many elements recall the great painters of past centuries.

Here, he masterfully depicts this battle scene, in which we can see, in the background, the movement of horses charging into battle. The knight’s face appears transfigured, like a Christ-like figure accepting his mission and sacrifice in advance.