By Jacques Francois Joseph Swebach-Desfontaines
Located in Genève, GE
Work on wood
Oil on panel depicting a lively military scene, attributed to Jacques Swebach, known as Swebach-Desfontaines (1769–1823), a French painter celebrated for his battle scenes, cavalry subjects, and historical genre compositions.
The painting features a mounted standard bearer leading a small group of cavalrymen, accompanied by figures on foot, advancing through an open landscape beneath a dramatic, cloud-filled sky. The dynamic arrangement of figures, the expressive postures, and the detailed rendering of horses demonstrate the artist’s keen observational skills and narrative clarity—hallmarks of Swebach’s work.
The color palette is composed of warm browns, earthy ochres, and muted blue-grey tones, creating a balanced yet animated atmosphere. The handling of paint is fluid and confident, with careful modeling of the figures and a sensitive treatment of light, particularly in the sky. The composition reflects the strong influence of 17th-century Flemish and Dutch painting, which played a significant role in Swebach’s artistic formation.
Executed in oil on wooden panel, a support frequently used in the late 18th and early 19th centuries for such subjects, this attributed work displays strong decorative appeal and solid pictorial quality. It is well suited for collectors of Old Master paintings, military art, and European historical scenes from the Napoleonic era.
Oil on panel
Oil on wood painting
Attributed to Jacques Swebach
Swebach Desfontaines
French Old Master painting
18th century French painting
Early 19th century painting
Antique military painting...
Category
1810s Old Masters Art by Medium: Oil
