'Attack of the Leopards,' 19th Century French oil painting

This impressive early 19^th Century French oil on canvas painting is held within an ornately carved giltwood frame.

The painting portrays a moment of intense action: a group of people, travelling by horse, is being attacked by a leap of leopards. The action unfolds in an Italianate setting, the figures ambushed on a path by a rocky ledge beside a river. The men fight back, using their daggers and spears to fend off the attacking felines.

There are several points to note about the picture: there is a definitive Orientalising element, several of the figures wearing turbans on their heads. Moreover, there is a distinct classicism about the composition, particularly the semi-nude male who reclines lower right. Most interesting is the man on horseback centre-left, whose horse rears beneath him and who, to maintain his balance, throws his right hand into the air. This composition recalls Jacques-Louis David’s Napoleon Crossing the Alps of 1801 to 1805. Indeed, it is very likely the artist of the current piece drew inspiration from David’s influential series of paintings.

Frame: Height 103cm, width 79cm, depth 6cm
Canvas: Height 87cm, width 63.5cm