A cavalry vidette. Taking it easy (1863)

Edwin Forbes is the artist behind "A cavalry vidette. Taking it easy", dated 1863. Drawings in brief: Drawings range from quick preparatory sketches to finished works in pen, chalk, charcoal, graphite, or wash. Artists have long used drawings to plan paintings, sculptures, and buildings, so a sketch can show how an idea developed. About the period around 1863: In the 1890s, colour lithography and Art Nouveau made the illustrated poster a celebrated art form. The later nineteenth century is the era of Impressionism, whose first group exhibition was held in Paris in 1874, followed by Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, and the Arts and Crafts movement. The catalogue places it in Drawings. The format is landscape.

On onlly.art "A cavalry vidette. Taking it easy" is sold as a digital download (Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI). The files are delivered by email after payment, so nothing is shipped: you print locally, choosing the paper, size, and frame yourself. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Before printing, compare the proportions of the file with your frame so that nothing important is cropped. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size. Matte and fine-art papers reduce glare in bright rooms, while glossy papers give stronger contrast and deeper blacks.

American, 1839–1895

If you like the visual language of Edwin Forbes, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.