Charles Philogène Tschaggeny (1815-1894) - Landschap met Paard en Rustende figuren

Charles Philogène Tschaggeny (1815-1894) – Landscape with Horse and Resting Figures, 1851

Oil on panel, hand-signed and dated lower left.

With “Landscape with Horse and Resting Figures,” a masterfully executed oil painting from 1851, Charles Philogène Tschaggeny places himself in the long tradition of realistic and romantic animal and genre painting. This carefully constructed scene captures not only the physical beauty and strength of the horse, a favorite subject of the artist, but also the peace and simplicity of peasant life in the 19th century.

A Serene Countryside Scene

The performance takes place in an open landscape, where the warm sunlight bathes the cornfield in a golden glow and the sky stretches out to the horizon in a subtle gradient of blue tones. Under a majestic tree, a draft horse seeks shade, while a farmer takes a short break and turns to a young woman carrying a bundle of grain. The scene radiates an authentic tranquility, a moment of stillness in the midst of the hard work in the fields.

In the background, other farmers continue their work, adding a natural dynamic to the painting and inviting the viewer to delve deeper into the scene. The depiction is not only a tribute to farm life, but also a subtle reflection on the connection between man, animal and nature.

Technique and Color Palette

Tschaggeny uses a delicate and precise brushwork, with a special attention to detail and texture. This is particularly evident in the anatomical representation of the horse: the muscular build, the sheen on the coat and the subtle shadows that suggest depth and volume. The careful modelling of the folds in the figures' clothing and the realistic depiction of the straw and the field testify to the artist's great technical skill.

The colour palette is rich and harmonious, with warm earth tones in the cornfield and the brown tones of the horse and tree trunk, contrasting with the cooler shades of the sky and foliage. The lighting is masterfully worked out: the play of sun and shadow enhances the plasticity of the figures and contributes to the atmosphere of the work.

Tschaggeny's Mastery in Animal Painting

Charles Philogène Tschaggeny was especially praised for his ability to capture horses and land animals with an unprecedented liveliness. In this painting he manifests himself as a true horse painter, in the tradition of greats such as Eugène Verboeckhoven and Alfred Verwee. The attention to the horse's posture, its tense muscles and the subtle nuances in the depiction of the harness testify to a deep knowledge of the animal and a thorough observation of its anatomy and behaviour.

The horse functions here not only as a central visual element, but also as a narrative focal point: it connects the farmer and the young woman and symbolises the close cooperation between man and animal in the agricultural society.

The Artist and His Context

Tschaggeny was born in Brussels in 1815 and initially worked at the Ministry of Finance before devoting himself entirely to painting. He received his artistic training from Eugène Verboeckhoven, a renowned Belgian animal painter, and later at the Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, under the influence of Nicaise De Keyser and Hendrik Leys.

His work quickly attracted attention and earned him commissions from King William II and Leopold I, as well as appreciation from Queen Maria Hendrika and Queen Victoria of England. One of the leading animal painters of his time, he worked in the romantic-realist tradition, idealizing rural life without losing sight of its harsh realities.

His work is often compared to that of contemporaries such as Constant Troyon, Rosa Bonheur and John Frederick Herring Sr., who also depicted the animal as the central subject within a rustic setting. Tschaggeny's paintings, however, reflect a typically Belgian interpretation of the genre, with a strong emphasis on precision and a refined, almost photographic detail.

A Heritage of 19th Century Genre Painting

The work “Landscape with Horse and Resting Figures” fits within the broader 19th century tradition of romantic and realistic painting, in which rural life was celebrated as a pure and authentic way of life. The attention to detail, the narrative element and the subtle interaction between the figures and the landscape make this a timeless and exceptionally refined work.

For lovers of classical animal and landscape painting, as well as collectors of 19th century Belgian art, this painting offers a wonderful opportunity to acquire a work by a master of his genre. The combination of technical virtuosity, poetic landscape expression and profound knowledge of animal anatomy make this an exceptional example of Tschaggeny’s oeuvre.

The work "Landscape with Horse and Resting Figures" is in a gilded RGS museum frame

Total dimensions: 38x47
Panel dimensions: 24x33cm

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