Historical narrative
Battle of Cowpens
Oil on canvas
About the painting
A militiaman turns to look behind him as red-coated soldiers advance across a winter battlefield. His face and the musket held across the foreground bring the encounter close to the viewer; ranks of soldiers recede into smoke and bare trees.
The contrast between the foreground figure and the advancing troops gives the scene its tension. Patches of snow, muted earth and a pale sky set off the red uniforms, carrying the eye from the individual to the wider battle.
Historical context
The Battle of Cowpens took place in South Carolina on January 17, 1781. Daniel Morgan’s American force defeated British troops under Banastre Tarleton, a significant victory in the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution.
Historical context · U.S. National Park Service ↗A closer look