Crowded Hunting Scene In Wooded Landscape 19th Century Oil Painting Signed

Signed lower centre “H. Vernet” presumably leads to French painter Émile Jean-Horace Vernet (1789 - 1863) more commonly known as simply Horace Vernet. “Lost Track” - This captivating autumn landscape with a hunting scene known as "par force" (or French: "chasse à Courre"), transports the viewer to the realm of French hunting grounds. Where, against the backdrop of a majestic forest, picturesque ancient oaks are depicted, hills stretching into the endless distance in the rays of the setting sun, giving a sense of depth and perspective to this artwork. At the heart of this artistic plot lies the moment of a hunt, where a pack of dogs, typically fierce and resolute in their pursuit, now find themselves in a state of confusion, having lost the track of their elusive prey in the water. To the left of the pack, a group of nobles on elegant steeds arrives on the scene, their aristocratic and reserved demeanor contrasting sharply with the chaos unfolding before them. The hunters appear to be faced with a decision, perhaps pondering their next move in light of the unexpected turn of events. The tension in the air is palpable, adding an element of intrigue to the scene. Our gaze is also attracted by a carriage drawn by four majestic snow-white horses with servants on the box, carrying two ladies wearing white dresses and hats. Their presence brings a sense of sophistication and grace, adding balance to the plot. What are they discussing, we wonder? Are they deliberating on the current predicament of their Cavaliers, or are they simply observing with a sense of detached curiosity? In this artwork, the artist skillfully combines elements of landscape painting and narrative storytelling, creating a canvas with an abundance of details, richness of color and play of light and shadow. Antique oil painting on canvas, signed, unframed.
Size app.: 65 x 81 cm (roughly 25.6 x 31.9 in). Overall in very good ready to hang condition with minimal wear, repairs, retouches, relined canvas. Please study good resolution images for cosmetic condition. In person actual painting may appear darker or brighter than in our pictures, strictly depending on sufficient light in your environment. Weight of app. 3.5 kg is going to measure 5 kg packed for shipment.
Émile Jean-Horace Vernet, was a French painter of battles, portraits, and Orientalist Arab subjects. He was born to Carle Vernet, another famous painter, who was himself a son of Claude Joseph Vernet. He was born in the Paris Louvre, while his parents were staying there during the French Revolution. Vernet quickly developed a disdain for the high-minded seriousness of academic French art influenced by Classicism, and decided to paint subjects taken mostly from contemporary culture. Over the course of his long career, Horace Vernet was honoured with dozens of important commissions. King Louis-Philippe was one of his most prolific patrons, and the whole of the Constantine room at the Palace of Versailles was decorated by him, in the short space of three years. Critics marvelled at the incredible speed with which he painted. Many of his paintings made during this early phase of his career were "noted for their historical accuracy as well as their charged landscapes". After the fall of the July Monarchy during the Revolution of 1848, Vernet discovered a new patron in Napoléon III. Vernet died in his hometown of Paris in 1863.