Troops on the March

Jean-Baptiste Joseph Pater painted this scene of troops on the march around 1725, one of his characteristic military subjects that combine the fete galante tradition with scenes of camp life. Pater was the only formal pupil of Antoine Watteau, who dismissed him after a brief apprenticeship but whom Pater continued to emulate. His military scenes reflect the era of Louis XV's early reign, when French armies were engaged across Europe.

Pater's oil technique on canvas follows Watteau's example with feathery brushwork and a luminous palette of soft pinks, blues, and greens. The figures are arranged in an informal, picturesque grouping that emphasizes the decorative quality over military realism.