A Campaign Scene
- Artist: Francesco Simonini
- Date: 1740-5
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the "A Campaign Scene" by Francesco Simonini. Painted in 1740–5, it's a beautiful example of Venetian painting from that period. The vivid colours and idyllic landscape are characteristic of the style.
The scene itself shows soldiers resting on a hillside, with one of them holding a furled flag. This suggests that the battle has not yet begun, and we see the everyday life of these soldiers, rather than the actual fighting.
One of the figures in the foreground is reclining on a rock, puffing on a long pipe and gazing out towards the soldiers and wagons crossing the valley below. It's as if Simonini is capturing a moment of calm before the chaos of war erupts.
It's worth noting that Francesco Simonini spent most of his career in Venice and was influenced by the Venetian painting style, which often combined the imaginary and real elements to create these idyllic scenes. This work is no exception, and it's a great example of how Simonini's experiences as a witness to military campaigns shaped his art.
See it in person
A Campaign Scene hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
