U. Checa (XIX) - XL FORMAT - The Charge Through The Forest

HORSEMANSCAPE SCENE IN THE FOREST, 1890

-Work of the Spanish school of the late 19th century

-Oil on canvas.

-Signed and dated U. Checa, 90 in the bottom right corner.

-Work dimensions: 159 x 99 cm.

With frame: 188 x 128 x 8 cm approx.

IMPORTANT TRANSPORT INFORMATION (Not Free)

Due to the large format of the work and the presence of a large frame, transportation must be handled in a special way.

The shipping costs indicated on the platform should be understood as an approximate estimate.

The buyer may directly arrange pickup or transport of the work if they wish.

If the real cost of packing, handling or specialized transport is higher than the initially indicated amount, any surplus must be borne by the buyer.

Pickup in person or transport arranged between both parties can also be coordinated.

The work will be prepared with maximum care, but given its dimensions we recommend a professional or specialized art- and large-format transport service.

(we can provide several options always taking your preferences into account)

1. IDENTIFICATION

1.1. Work

Large cavalry scene set in a forest landscape.

The composition shows an episode of movement, smoke, horses and soldiers, with a strong narrative tension.

The work appears signed and dated U. Checa, 90.

Due to the lack of an authenticity certificate, it is prudently presented as signed only U. Checa.

1.2. Context of the artist to whom it relates in theme and style

Ulpiano Checa was one of the most renowned Spanish painters for his historical, military, equestrian scenes with great dynamic composition.

His painting combines academicism, late romanticism, a theatrical sense of movement, and a free brushwork in certain areas of the composition.

2. ARTISTIC DESCRIPTION

The scene unfolds in an open forest, with tall trees, smoke from gunfire and a composition marked by the advance of the horses.

The gaze moves among the foreground figures, the bridge, the moving soldiers and the illuminated path in the background.

There is a clear sense of suspended action.

The moment seems captured in full tension,

not entirely stopping,

as if the scene continues to unfold beyond the frame.

The horses and riders are treated with quick, expressive brushwork.

Some areas are more defined;

others remain more open, almost sketch-like.

This difference in finish is particularly interesting.

It could indicate that this is a commissioned or workshop work, advanced in its overall composition, but possibly not brought to the final degree of realistic definition by the artist.

3. ATTRIBUTION AND CURATORIAL READING

The signature U. Checa and the date 90 naturally orient the work toward Ulpiano Checa and Sanz.

The equestrian theme, the movement of the horses, the historic-military episode and the monumental format are elements very close to his pictorial universe.

Even so, prudence dictates that, in the absence of a certificate or supplementary documentation, the work should be cataloged as:

Signed U. Checa

One possible reading is that it is a composition commissioned or prepared for a project of greater ambition.

The work retains strength, structure and movement,

but some areas seem to be awaiting a final pass of outlining,

especially in faces, secondary details and certain passages in the background.

This condition allows for a very direct observation of the painting process.

The scene preserves an open energy,

between the initial idea,

the compositional construction,

and the final finish.

4. CONDITION

The work shows later restorations.

There are slight losses of paint and visible signs of the passage of time.

The surface shows craquelure, worn areas, interventions and differences in finish.

The frame also shows losses, nicks and signs of age.

Photographs are an essential part of the description.

They allow observing the signature, the painted surface, the frame, the reverses, the restorations and the overall conservation status.

5. FRAME AND PRESENCE

The work is presented with a frame of large size and strong decorative presence.

The overall dimensions reach approximately 188 x 128 x 8 cm, making the piece a painting of substantial scale.

The frame shows losses and wear,

but it suitably accompanies the historical character of the scene.

Its presence reinforces reading the work as a grand apparatus painting, designed to occupy a wide space.

6. CONTEMPLATION

This painting belongs to the world of movement.

Horses,

smoke,

gunfire,

trees,

soldiers,

dust,

and a cold light that filters through the forest.

It is not a quiet scene.

It is an image in transit.

Part of its interest lies precisely in that open condition:

the work seems to be between the initial impulse and the final finish,

between the imagined battle and the finished painting.

A piece of great presence for anyone approaching it from history, equestrian painting, and Ulpiano Checa's pictorial universe.