Cavalry advancing to the charge, with a central figure on horseback raising a sword 1735

Arthur Pond created this drawing of cavalry advancing to the charge using pen and brown ink, with brown wash over graphite, around 1728 in England. The image is dominated by a central figure on horseback, sword raised, leading troops into battle. What interests me most is how Pond uses visual codes to depict military power during a time of significant social and political change in England. The early 18th century saw the rise of a commercial society and challenges to traditional aristocratic power. Military imagery, like this, served to reinforce notions of hierarchy and national identity. To understand this drawing fully, we might delve into the military history of the period, examining the role of cavalry in warfare and the social composition of the officer corps. We might also explore the institutional history of art academies and their role in promoting certain artistic styles and subjects. Ultimately, this drawing reminds us that art is never neutral; it always reflects the values and interests of its time.