Mounted Trumpeter of Napoleon's Imperial Guard
1813 National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
About this artwork
This oil painting depicts a mounted trumpeter of the French Imperial Guard, likely inspired by the Napoleonic Wars. It is known for its energetic brushwork and the dynamic representation of the horse and rider.
Did you know?
Géricault was fascinated by the military life of the Napoleonic era, often focusing on the individual soldier rather than grand battlefield strategies. This work showcases his transition toward the raw, emotive power that would define his later masterpiece, 'The Raft of the Medusa.' The artist's obsession with horses led him to spend hours studying them at the stables, resulting in the incredibly lifelike and muscular anatomy seen here.
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Mounted Trumpeter of Napoleon's Imperial Guard
Théodore Géricault, 1813
