Jacques Courtois Il Borgognone, Battle Scenes, 1670, Oil on Canvases, Framed, Set of 2

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Jacques courtois the burgundian (saint hippolyte 1621 - rome 1676) attributed to

a pair of battles between imperial knights and … Read more Jacques courtois the burgundian (saint hippolyte 1621 - rome 1676) attributed to

a pair of battles between imperial knights and turks
oil on canvas (51 x 71 cm - antique frame, minor losses and defects 61 x 80 cm)
reference literature: g. Sestieri, i pittori di battaglia. Maestri italiani e stranieri del xvii e xviii secolo, rome 1999, pp. 154-205.

this splendid pair of battles between imperial and turkish cavalry displays the compositional and stylistic characteristics typical of the work of jacques courtois, known as the burgundian (saint hippolyte 1621 - rome 1676), a prominent battle painter active in the mid-17th century. His baroque style, characterized by striking realism and a highly dramatic portrayal of conflict, became a pioneer of this genre.

the works demonstrate a fine quality of execution with a refined pictorial style, including the dramatic depiction of the columns of smoke in the sky and the agitated movement of the horsemen, which, in our opinion, would support the authorship of the same painter.

a distinctive feature of his scenes is the depiction of combat in the foreground, depicted with careful direction, highlighting the vortex of violence that culminates at the center of the canvas, with the knight swinging his sword, with a strikingly realistic tone.

borgonone's passion for battle scenes developed following his military experience in 1636, when he enlisted in the spanish troops stationed in milan, where he remained until 1639, after which he devoted himself entirely to his painting career.

battle paintings were particularly popular during the baroque era, often inspired by military events and therefore truly topical: the dramatic war events that marked the 17th century, from the bloody thirty years' war to the strenuous defense of vienna and the west from the turks, were a fruitful source of inspiration for the birth and extraordinary diffusion of the "battle" painting genre in the 17th century.

of all the specialists in the genre, borgognone—born in burgundy and moving to italy at a young age, where he moved several times before finally settling in rome—was perhaps the best known and most celebrated, with commissions from some of the most important roman and italian families, especially among the aristocracy and rulers, including the medici family.

additional information:

the work is sold 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



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