Victory of the Duke of Savoy at the Battle of Assieta 1754

Curator: This drawing, "Victory of the Duke of Savoy at the Battle of Assieta," was created by Hyacinth de La Pegna. It measures approximately 57 by 73 centimeters and is currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The image teems with figures; a mass of bodies surging across a jagged landscape. The monochrome amplifies the chaos and the sense of a brutal, grinding conflict. Curator: Absolutely. Pegna’s rendering captures not just the battle itself, but the enormous labor involved in eighteenth-century warfare. Consider the material conditions – the sourcing of gunpowder, uniforms, and weaponry, all fueling the ambitions of Savoy. Editor: The formal arrangement also speaks to that ambition. The composition directs our gaze upward to the formidable terrain, mirroring the challenges faced by the Duke’s forces. Note the intricate linework used to convey depth and the sheer scale of the battle. Curator: Pegna’s focus on the material and social contexts of warfare encourages us to rethink the romanticized narratives surrounding leadership. Editor: Perhaps it's Pegna’s very artistic skill that inadvertently romanticizes it? Nonetheless, both the formal mastery and historical context offer vital perspectives on this work.