'Onward'

John Gilbert 1817 - 1897

Summary

Large-scale portrait of an armoured mounted soldier, holding high a standard, his steed rearing in anticipation. Seen from the off-side (the horse's head to the right, its tail to the left), the soldier turns in the saddle, his head turned in profile to the left, revealing an expression of determination on his face. Placed around his helmet is a garland of leaves; his body armour is undecorated except for a trefoil emblem on his breast-plate; he carries a standard with a tassled fringe in his right hand, which billows in the wind. His horse is a stout, muscular animal with flowing mane and tail; it wears large quantities of highly decorative saddlery, ornamented with embroidery and jewels. To the left of the composition is the head of a second mounted soldier, seen in profile to the right, and the head, neck and shoulders of his horse. Overcast sky and mountains in the background.

Display Label

Onward 1890 Sir John Gilbert 1817 - 1897 Oil on canvas Gilbert's painting of a valiant medieval knight urging his men on to battle does not relate a particular historic incident. It was painted to appeal to the Victorian audience and their love of the middle ages, imagined by them as a period of heroism and chivalry. Gilbert was well known as a book illustrator who worked quickly to capture the drama of a scene. One reviewer wrote of Onward: 'It is so admirable a piece of colour, so full of martial fire that the visitor may forgive the loose draughtsmanship and questionable proportions of the horse and man'. Presented by the artist 1893.7