(Verona 1835-c. 1893)
Archduke Charles of Austria-Teschen Leading the Battle of Aldenhoven on 1 March 1793, signed, dated A. v. Maly 1887, oil on canvas, 68 x 101 cm, framed

Compare:
Friedrich von Boetticher, Malerwerke des 19. Jahrhunderts, Hofheim am Taunus 1979, vol. I, 2, p. 966, no. 2 “Französische Gefangene auf dem Feldzug”; First Battle of Aldenhoven, (1.3.1793), heliogravure, print of the k. u. k Militärgeographisches Institut, ÖNB Bildarchiv und Grafiksammlung, inv. no. Pk 2598, 83.

Born in Verona in 1835, August Ritter von Maly trained at the Vienna Academy and then worked in Austria. As an officer, Maly mainly painted battle scenes and soldiers and drew on his personal experience to depict these realistically. Later he became a professor at the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt. Maly contributed significantly to high-quality and detailed military painting in Austria.

The artist chose a scene from the Battle of Aldenhoven for the present painting.
In March 1793 and October 1794, French revolutionary troops fought against an alliance of Austrian and Prussian troops on German soil as part of the First Coalition War.

The Battle of Aldenhoven pitted the Habsburg army commanded by Prince Frederick Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld against the Republican French force under René Joseph de Lanoue and resulted in an Austrian victory. Archduke Carl of Austria-Teschen successfully led the cavalry across the Rur. This was a significant tactical development that successfully prevented the siege of Maastricht by French troops. The Duke of Teschen was appointed Governor-General of the Austrian Netherlands shortly after the battle. In the second battle in 1794, the French army were victorious; however, their tally of dead and wounded soldiers exceeded that of the opposing side many times over.