Paintings> 1600 > 'The battle against Amalek', oil on canvas, Flemish school, second half of the seventeenth century.
'The battle against Amalek', oil on canvas, Flemish school, second half of the seventeenth century.
Description:Our battle scene has a frantic fight scene in the foreground, full of details and colors, based on the browns tones while, in the background, the fighting continues in almost monochrome colors. The conflict is set in a misty landscape, enclosed by mountains. The scene focus is the battle in the foreground: within the struggle between the troops a soldier stands while an armored knight is hitting him. Particular accuracy is shown in the rendering of costumes and horses as well as a careful research in the characterization of the soldiers and their actions.
The vast spaciousness of the sky, the opposition between the mass in the shadow in the foreground and the background light may remind us of examples of the Battles of Salvator Rosa (Naples 1615 - 1673). However, the analytical details of the painting may refer it to Flemish painters like Jacques Courtois (Saint-Hyppolite 1621 - Rome 1676).
The Battle agaist AmaleK is a Bible episode, Exodus 17: 'Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, 'Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.' 10 Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses' hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set. 13 So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword'.
The painting needs to be restored in order to remove the thick yellowed varnish.
The carved and gilded frame is a Salvator Rosa one of the eighteenth century.
Age:late sixteen century
Dimensions:18 x 23 3/4 inc.; with frame 25,5 x 31,5
Price: Sold
Item n°: RA 164
If you are interested to buy this Item or if you want to have more details about it, fill the form below and we will answer you as soon as possible.
