French School, last quarter of the 18th century, The Battle of Denain

French School, last quarter of the 18th century The Battle of Denain Oil on circular card, diameter 8 cm Framed, 13.5 x 13.5 cm The Battle of Denain was fought on July 24, 1712, in the context of the War of the Spanish Succession, and saw the victory of the French army led by Marshal Claude de Villars against the Austro-Dutch forces of Prince Eugene of Savoy. After 11 years of war – the struggle for the succession to the throne of Spain began in 1701 – France was going through a difficult period both financially and militarily. The victories initially obtained by Villars in the Battle of Friedlingen and Höchstadt were followed by a series of defeats at the hands of Prince Eugene and the Duke of Marlborough. In 1708, following the Battle of Oudenaarde, almost all the fortresses of Northern France were in the hands of the Austro-British coalition. Furthermore, the economic crisis and the very harsh winter of 1708 had led to a serious famine. In 1709 the command of the French army in the north was entrusted to Villars, who immediately began a reorganization of the forces at his disposal. The first effects of this turning point were seen in the Battle of Malplaquet, in which Villars – who was wounded in combat – inflicted twice as many losses on the troops of Eugene and the Duke of Marlborough as he suffered, and, above all, prevented his adversaries from imposing their conditions on the King of France. In May 1712 Villars, after gathering 200,000 men, was able to resume the offensive along the northern border, near Arras and Cambrai. The Austro-Dutch army was positioned along the Scarpe River between Douai and Marchiennes and occupied the cities of Denain and Landrecies. Arriving in Denain, Villars had the area inspected and ordered some troops to block the ford of the Scheldt River near Haspres. During the night the French army marched towards Landrecies. Eugene reinforced his troops in Landrecies and settled in defense of Denain. At 5 a.m. on July 24, Villars launched an attack on Avesnes-le-Sec and shortly after reached Neuville-sur-Escaut. In the afternoon Villars was ready to launch an offensive against the Dutch forces led by Count d'Albermarle. Eugene tried to cross the Scheldt to help Albermarle, but the French troops led by the Prince of Tingry prevented him. Albemarle was therefore defeated and taken prisoner. The painting depicts a dynamic and chaotic battle scene, with soldiers on horseback and on foot engaged in fierce combat. The round format of the work, enclosed within a square wooden frame, emphasizes the whirling movement of the battle. The soldiers are depicted in different poses, some charging with swords drawn, others falling from horses, others still facing each other in individual duels. In the center of the scene, a figure on horseback in a blue uniform can be glimpsed, probably identifiable with the French officer Claude de Villars, who seems to be leading the charge.