Friedland

 It was time to work on the painting-within-the-painting; Meissonier's "1807, Friedland." It shows Napoleon waving to his troops from his secure position on a hill while the army races to its battle. I hate the painting. I think of the terrified horses, who have no wish to be there. I think of the men slaughtered. I think of the wars my country has been involved in since shortly after I was born and my friends from high school who died in one of them.

                                         A Quiet Moment At The Met, work in progress (click on image for larger view)