A Cavalry Battle before a City
1686[-]ca. 1755
![A Cavalry Battle before a City by Francesco Simonini, 1686[-]ca. 1755](https://www.thequadro.com/api/storage/artworks/thumb/l/francesco-simonini/francesco-simonini_a-cavalry-battle-before-a-city_8b30415f)
Francesco Simonini was obsessed with the chaos of war, and this frantic sketch proves it. He likely created this as a study after Leonardo da Vinci’s famous lost fresco, the 'Battle of Anghiari,' capturing that exact moment where men and horses tangle in a desperate fight for a flag. Notice how the background features a serene city on a cliff, completely ignoring the muddy, violent melee happening right in front of it. It’s a brilliant mix of Rococo energy and historical homage, turning a gruesome battle into a swirling dance of ink lines.
- Technique
- Pen and brown ink with wash
- Material
- Paper