The Battle of Novara: a dramatic scene of military confrontation

(1824 Würzburg – 1903 Munich) A knightly battle between Austrian troops under the command of Field Marshal Radetzky against the forces of the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont at the Battle of Novara in 1849. The finely detailed depiction of the dramatic battle scene shows a vivid portrayal of charging horses. In the center of the painting stand two soldiers fighting with a spear and a sword, while two fallen soldiers lie on the ground before them. This is an early work by Beringer, who himself served as a captain in the Bavarian army. He stands in the tradition of Dietrich Montens and achieved success as a sought-after artist depicting military scenes and uniformed figures, which were also printed as lithographs. From 1866, Beringer exhibited at the Munich Art Society. Oil on oak panel. Restored, signed, and indistinctly dated "185(1?)". 52 cm x 56.5 cm. Framed. The Battle of Novara in northern Italy on March 23, 1849, was one of the decisive engagements between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Sardinia during the First Italian War of Independence. It resulted in a heavy defeat for the Piedmontese army.