Chasseur à Cheval (Soldier on Horseback)
Medium
watercolor and gouache on wove paper
Dimensions
sheet: 39.7 x 29.9 cm (15 5/8 x 11 3/4 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Purchased as the Gift of Alexander M. and Judith W. Laughlin
Accession Number
2012.66.1
Art Historical Context
Jean-Baptiste-Édouard Detaille’s *Chasseur à Cheval (ier on Horseback)*1885) captures the poised elegance of a French light cavalryman astride his mount, rendered in delicate watercolor and gouache onove paper. Measuring 39.7 x 29.9 cm, this intimate drawing exemplifies Detaille’s mastery of military portraiture, showcasing his meticulous attention to the soldier’s uniform, the horse’s musculature, and the subtle play of light on polished leather and metal. A leading figure in 19th-century French Realism, Detaille specialized in glorifying the French army, often drawing from his experiences d...