Wilfrid‑Constant Beauquesne (1847-1913) - Óleo histórico “Sebastopol” – escena de batalla

Technique on support: Oil on canvas
Title of the work: "Óleo histórico “Sebastopol” – escena de batalla de la guerra de Crimea"
Author: Wilfrid‑Constant Beauquesne (1847-1913) - French School 19th century
Period: 19th century
Country of origin: France
Good condition for its age and use
Overall dimensions: 34.5 x 42.5 cm with frame; 24.5 x 33 cm the canvas.

Small but intense oil on canvas of a historical-military theme, probably related to the siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War (1853‑1856). In the upper left there is the inscription “Sevl !!!”, which reinforces the reference to Sevastopol, while the signature, located in the lower area, reads as “J´ap Beauquesne”. The work was acquired in France at an auction house under the authorship of the painter Wilfrid‑Constant Beauquesne (1847‑1913), known for his battle scenes and depictions of conflicts of the 19th century.

The composition shows a French officer in a dark uniform in the foreground, standing beside a piece of artillery, surrounded by fallen soldiers, helmets, remains of equipment and a landscape devastated by the battle. The smoke-filled sky and the warm range of ochres, reds and yellows on the ground convey the violence of combat and the dramatic atmosphere of the battlefield. Despite the relatively small format (33 x 24 cm of canvas), the artist concentrates a great narrative energy: the officer’s stance, the fallen bodies and the scattered cannons build a scene of heroism and tragedy very characteristic of late 19th-century French battle painting.

Wilfrid‑Constant Beauquesne (Rennes, 1847 – Montgeron, 1913) was a French painter specialized in military scenes. A student of Horace Vernet and Émile Vernet‑Lecomte at the École des Beaux‑Arts in Paris, he mainly devoted himself to representing episodes of the Franco‑Prussian War of 1870 and other contemporary conflicts, with works such as Prise de la ferme de Servigny par le 11e chasseurs, Le Calvaire de Woerth or scenes of Bazeilles, many of them preserved in the Musée de l’Armée in Paris. He regularly exhibited at the Paris Salon between 1880 and 1899 and is considered one of the battle painters who best managed to combine historical rigor and dramatic staging in late 19th‑century France.

This oil painting sits within that thematic universe, but translated to the theater of the Crimean War, where the defense of Sevastopol became a recurring motif in engravings, photographs and historical paintings. Given its format, it may be a study or a preparatory “maquette” for a larger composition, something common in Beauquesne, who worked from small oils before executing larger salon canvases. The signature “J´ap Beauquesne” and the inscription “Sevl !!!” should be explicitly mentioned in the catalog description, as well as the fact that the attribution to Wilfrid‑Constant Beauquesne is based on the French auction house’s cataloging where it was acquired and on stylistic comparison with known works by the artist.

Canvas dimensions: approximately 33 x 24 cm; with a period wooden frame, which enhances the collectible character. Condition: good for its age, with possible tiny craquelures, light scuffs and surface dirt consistent with an oil painting from the late 19th century; the color retains its strength and the scene reads clearly. A work recommended for collectors of military painting, enthusiasts of Crimean War history and lovers of 19th-century French war iconography.

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The frame protecting the work is offered as a courtesy, although it has intrinsic value. It is provided at no extra cost so that the work may be exhibited immediately at its destination. No claims or cancellation requests due to damages to the frame that do not affect the integrity of the artwork will be accepted.

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