Continental School
18th Century
The Battle of Blenheim
Oil on panel
19 x 32 1/2 inches (48.3 x 82.6 cm)
Provenance:
Marjorie Merriweather Post, Washington, D.C.
Acquired from Mrs. Post by a member of her family
By descent in the same family to the present owner
The Battle of Blenheim, fought on August 2, 1704 in Bavaria, was a major victory for the alliance of Great Britain, the Netherlands and Austria against France and Bavaria in the War of Spanish Succession. This was essentially a dynastic conflict between France and the Habsburg Empire to determine not only who should succeed to the Spanish throne, but also how much of Spain's vast territories the kingdom should retain. The French king Louis XIV's grandson Charles of Anjou was declared Philip of V of Spain in 1700, but fighting to settle the disposition of territories continued until 1715. The victory of the English and Austrians at Blenheim nearly destroyed the military power of France, whose army had previously been thought invincible. This outcome sharply checked the international dominance of France for most of the 18th century.

C

Panel cradled. Scattered spots of restoration; some dark areas reinforced.
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