by Tom Gurney
Tom Gurney BSc (Hons) is an art history expert with over 20 years experience
Published on June 19, 2020 / Updated on October 14, 2023
Email: tomgurney1@gmail.com / Phone: +44 7429 011000
Jean-Honoré Fragonard created this portrait of a soldier sat by his horse in 1769 and it is now a part of the collection of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, in Barcelona, Spain.
We can immediately spot several elements to this artwork that are typical of the artist. The folded cloth of the man's trousers are similar in style to how Fragonard had put together other paintings, sometimes with curtains or blinds which creep in from the side of the composition. There is also the elaborate neckwear which continues this approach. The horse behind him is relatively simple in detail and deliberately cropped out so that it does not take too much attention away from the central figure. When looking at the angle of the horse's neck and the item on which the soldier sits, perhaps the horse is being fed and the soldier is taking a moment to rest and recuperate.
A closer look at this painting reveals an arrogant look on the face of the soldier, reclining backwards with his chin jutting into the air. The clothing is believed to have been an artistic style of the time for Spanish figures, rather than an accurate depiction of what they actually wore at the time. There were strong influences between the ruling monarchies of that period, with France, Spain and the UK all taking in each other's ideas through the notable art of the period, as well as literature as well as the personal relationships that some of their citizens shared. Over the centuries, many regions within these nations have also changed hands, further strengthening their connections between each other's cultures.
The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, in which Jean-Claude Richard, Abbe of Saint-Non can be found, provides many excellent examples of the fine art that has come from this region, as well as offering other original items from the rest of Europe. This Spanish region continues to be fiercely independent and historically holds a particularly unique, creative culture that has given us the likes of Antoni Gaudi, Salvador Dali and Joan Miro. The region's artistic exploits therefore impacted European painting, sculpture and architecture and just those three names alone have left a huge influence on Modernism, Surrealism and Abstract art movements.