Study for the attack of Abd el Kader ‘s Smalah by the Duke d’Aumale 

Horace Vernet made this study for the attack of Abd el Kader’s Smalah by the Duke d’Aumale, using oil paint on canvas. The material itself, oil paint, allows for a great range of effects, from thin washes to impasto. Vernet has exploited this, creating a sense of immediacy and movement. We can see how the artist is interested in capturing the chaos of battle, but the way in which the paint is applied also reveals something about the production of this image. This sketchiness is something of a departure from the highly finished style that Vernet was known for, and speaks to a shift in the art world at this time, moving away from the careful polish of academic painting, and towards the immediacy of the sketch. This new approach elevated the status of the artist, who was now seen as a kind of heroic figure, able to capture the essence of a scene with a few deft strokes. By understanding the materials and processes used to create an artwork, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the social and cultural forces that shaped its production.