Dutch-Austrian school, monogrammed: Bibber in a window opening, oil on panel, dated 1796, 18th/19th

Full title: Dutch-Austrian school, monogrammed: Bibber in a window opening, oil on panel, dated 1796, 18th/19th C.Description:Work: 55,5 x 36 cm Frame: 71 x 51,5 cm The monogrammed (left bottom corner) work bears also the inscription 'Vivat Carolus Archidux Austriae Liberator Germaniae Vivat 1796', most probably referring to the success of archduke Charles Louis John Joseph Laurentius of Austria in the war against the French army, as at the end of the 18th C. he was considered as one of the best generals in Europe. Archduke Charles Louis John Joseph Laurentius of Austria, Duke of Teschen (5 September 1771– 30 April 1847) was anAustrianfield marshal, the third son ofEmperor Leopold IIand his wife,Maria Luisa of Spain. He was also the younger brother ofFrancis II, Holy Roman Emperor. Despite beingepileptic, Charles achieved respect both as a commander and as a reformer of the Austrian army. He was considered one ofNapoleon'smore formidable opponents and one of the greatest generals of theFrench Revolutionary Wars. He began his career fighting the revolutionary armies of France. Early in the wars of theFirst Coalition, he saw victory atNeerwindenin 1793, before being defeated atWattignies1793 andFleurus1794. In 1796, as chief of all Austrian forces on theRhine, Charles defeatedJean-Baptiste JourdanatAmberg,WürzburgandLimburg, and then won victories atWetzlar,EmmendingenandSchliengenthat forcedJean Victor Marie Moreauto withdraw across the Rhine. He also defeated opponents atZürich,Ostrach,Stockach, andMannheimin 1799. He reformed Austria's armies to adopt the nation-at-arms principle. In 1809, he entered theWar of the Fifth Coalitionand inflicted Napoleon's first major setback atAspern-Essling, before suffering a defeat at the bloodyBattle of Wagram. After Wagram, Charles saw no more significant action in the Napoleonic Wars. As a military strategist, Charles was able to successfully execute complex and risky maneuvers of troops. However, his contemporaryCarl von Clausewitzcriticized his rigidity and adherence to 'geographic' strategy.Austriansnevertheless remember Charles as a hero of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. (link) The way in which the portrait is built up - a seated man in a window opening - is a clear nod to the oeuvre of Gerrit Dou (1613-1675).