Antonio Calza, Battle Knights Landscape, 1700, Oil on Canvas

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Antonio calza (verona, 1653 – verona 1725) - battle between christian and turkish cavalry

oil on canvas (47 x 85 … Read more Antonio calza (verona, 1653 – verona 1725) - battle between christian and turkish cavalry

oil on canvas (47 x 85 cm - framed 66 x 105 cm)
here we see a heated battle between christian and turkish cavalry, characterized by marked dynamism and expressive force; the two sides are in the heat of battle, while lifeless bodies and wounded horses lie on the ground, along with scattered weapons and a drum, heightening the drama of the clash.

these elements, combined with the intense color palette, attentive to lighting, and the bold, dramatic brushstrokes, 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 pupil and then one of the best followers of jacques courtois the burgundian (saint-hyppolite 1621 – rome 1676), between the late 17th and the first quarter of the 18th century. While assimilating the master's teachings, he also developed a personal style, based primarily on the unmistakable dynamic development of the narrative and a vibrant, vivid palette, characterized by bright reds and blues.

although smaller in size, the work under consideration reveals the distinctive stylistic characteristics of calza's painting, particularly the figures and details that recur in his battles and which can implicitly be considered his signature.

in this regard, it is easy to compare the painting presented here with those from his pictorial corpus, collected by giancarlo sestieri in the essay "battle painters, italian and foreign masters of the 17th and 18th centuries," among which we have selected some works, which we present below (with detailed illustrations):
- battle with trumpeter and 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 before a burning city, 180 x 122.5 cm. 99 x 128. Vienna, kunsthistorisches museum

among the typical elements, the frequent towers are undoubtedly significant. They contribute to the compositions' setting and, combined with clouds and black smoke, create a sort of scenic presence around the battlefield.

the painter often introduces a horse on the ground, of which only the rear end is visible, a device to engage the viewer, making them actively participate in the scene. Likewise, the lifeless fallen bodies depicted in the foreground are often positioned facing forward with their heads turned toward the viewer.

a final detail present in many of calza's canvases is a drum, placed in the foreground, overturned and abandoned.

additional information:

good condition, complete with gilded frame.

the work is sold complete with a certificate of authenticity and an iconographic. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



issues arising from misattribution See less