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 paper, diameter 8 cm

With frame, 13,5 x 13,5 cm

The Battle of Denain was fought on 24 July 1712, during 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 Spanish throne began in 1701 – France was going through difficult times, both financially and militarily. Initial victories under Villars at the Battle of Friedlingen and Höchstadt were followed by a series of defeats at the hands of Prince Eugene and the Duke of Marlborough. By 1708, following the Battle of Oudenaarde, almost all the fortresses in Northern France were in the hands of the Austro-British coalition. In addition, 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 change were seen in the battle of Malplaquet in which Villars – who was wounded in combat – inflicted on the troops of Eugene and the Duke of Marlborough double the losses he had suffered and, above all, prevented his opponents from imposing their conditions on the king of France. In May 1712, Villars, having gathered 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 towns of Denain and Landrecies. Arriving at 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 at Landrecies and established himself in defense of Denain. At 5 am on July 24, Villars launched an attack on Avesnes-le-Sec and shortly afterwards reached Neuville-sur-Escaut. By the afternoon Villars was ready to launch an offensive against the Dutch forces led by the Count of Albermarle. Eugene attempted to cross the Scheldt to help Albermarle but was prevented from doing so by French troops led by the Prince of Tingry. Albermarle was 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 whirlwind movement of the battle. The soldiers are depicted in various poses, some charging with drawn swords, others falling from their horses, still others engaging in individual duels. At 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.