The Battle of Aspern-Essling

The Battle of Aspern-Essling is an 1820 history painting by the German-Austrian artist Johann Peter Krafft.^[1][2][3] It portrays the Battle of Aspern-Essling fought on 21–22 May 1809 during the Napoleonic Wars. Fought just after Napoleon's forces had captured the Austrian capital Vienna, it was a significant defeat for the Grande Armée at the hands of the Austrian Army led by Archduke Charles. It is also known by the longer title Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen, with his Staff at the Battle of Aspern-Essling.

The Battle of Aspern-Essling
1838 version
Artist	Johann Peter Krafft
Year	1820
Type	Oil on canvas, history painting
Dimensions	192 cm × 268 cm (76 in × 106 in)
Location	Liechtenstein Museum, Vienna

In 1821 it was purchased by the Prince of Liechtenstein, who had fought at the battle.^[4] In 1838 Krafft produced another version of the painting, which is now also in the Liechtenstein Collection.^[5]

See also

• The Battle of Wagram, an 1836 painting of Horace Vernet depicting another battle from the same campaign

References

1. Kräftner p.87
2. Bürgersinn und Aufbegehren: Biedermeier und Vormärz in Wien, 1815–1848. Eigenverlag der Museen der Stadt Wien, 1988. p.52
3. Bryan p.736
4. Vaduz-Vienna, LIECHTENSTEIN The Princely Collections. "Archduke Karl with his Staff at the Battle of Aspern-Essling (1809)". LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz–Vienna.
5. Vaduz-Vienna, LIECHTENSTEIN The Princely Collections. "Archduke Karl with his Staff at the Battle of Aspern-Essling 1809". LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz–Vienna.

Bibliography

• Bryan, Michael. Dictionary of Painters and Engravers. G. Bell & Sons, 1898.
• Frodl-Schneemann, Marianne. Johann Peter Krafft, 1780–1856: Monographie und Verzeichnis der Gemälde. Herold, 1984.
• Kräftner, Johann. Liechtenstein Museum: Classicism and Biedermeier. Liechtenstein Museum, 2004.