Wojciech Kossak (1856 Paris - 1942 Krakow) Szwoleżerowie pod Wagram, 1893.

oil, duplicated canvas, 73 × 112 cm

Signed and dated l. d.: Wojciech Kossak/1893

good state of preservation

Literature:

E. Swieykowski Pamiętnik Towarzystwa Sztuk Pięknych w Krakowie 1854-1904, Kraków 1905, pp. 77

Little encyclopedia of Polish art, Cracow 2007 - Kluszczyński, p. 86.

Catalog of 186 auctions of works of art and antiques, Rempex, 24.10.2012, item 137.

Catalog of theexhibition Juliusz Kossak (1856-1942)/ Wojciech Kossak (1856-1942) at the Polish Museum in Rapperswil, 20.06.-23.09.2018, p. 67.

Catalog of the exhibition Juliusz Kossak (1856-1942)/ Wojciech Kossak (1856-1942) at the Polish Library in Paris, 27.09-28.10.2018, p. 59

The painting on display is a multifaceted battlescene depicting an episode of Napoleon's victorious battle against the Austrian army, fought on July 5 and 6, 1809 at Wagram, near Vienna. The artist illustrated the moment of the battle after Polish cavalrymen were fired upon by Austrian artillery. In this dramatic situation, Colonel Wincenty Krasinski, commander of the Polish cavalrymen, shown on a white horse in the center of the composition, showed exceptional valor, picking up his unit and leading it to victory. During the charge, the Polish Cheval Legers took their lances from the Austrian lancers. Since then, the unit was called Cheval Legers-Lancers. The painting is characterized by an original, dynamic composition, conveying the tension of the ongoing battle, a masterful, casual, yet detailed modeling of the figures, horses and armament.

Sopot Auction House is in possession of two reviews of the work by Elżbieta Charazińska and Adam Konopacki.