Three Warriors and Their Horses, Study for a Bas Relief Sculpture in the Chateau de Tervueren 1800 - 1855

François Rude drew this study of three warriors and their horses in pen and brown ink, as preparation for a bas relief sculpture in the Chateau de Tervueren. Rude was a leading sculptor in France during the first half of the 19th century. This was a time when the institutions of art like the École des Beaux-Arts and the Salon exhibitions, were powerful forces that shaped artistic production. The neo-classical style, with its emphasis on reason, order, and references to the art of ancient Greece and Rome, was dominant. Rude broke away from neo-classicism and embraced a more romantic style, characterized by emotion, drama, and individualism. You can see this in the dynamic energy of the warriors and their horses. Rude's style was seen as progressive and challenged the conservative norms of the French art establishment. The Chateau de Tervueren was a project of the Belgian government. The use of classically inspired warriors suggests that the sculpture was intended to reflect the virtues of courage and strength. By studying preparatory drawings such as this, we can gain a deeper understanding of the artist's process, and the social and political context in which art is made.