Meissonier's "The Brawl"

Ernest Meissonier’s painting “The Brawl” (La Rixe) was the star of the 1855 Paris Salon. 

According to a description from a 1904 book, “The scene represents a quarrel in a tavern between two bravos. The period is the early part of the seventeenth century. Tables and chairs have been overturned, and cards, the probably cause of the trouble, lie scattered on the floor. 

"The assailant has drawn his dagger and struggles to free himself from two companions, as they with difficulty prevent his rushing upon his adversary, who, restrained by a third peacemaker, attempts to draw his sword. 

"The violent movement, the fierce struggle of the angry men, the intense expression, not only of the faces but of each limb and muscle, are powerfully rendered by the artist, who, it is said, painted this stirring scene to silence the critics who had declared him unable to depict action.”

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The painting is 18 x 22 inches and is in the Royal Collection 

Quote from Meissonier: Masters of Art

Wikipedia on Meissonier

Related image: "The End of a Game of Cards"

Book: Ernest Meissonier and Art for the French Bourgeoisie: Master in his Genre
eBook: The Judgment of Paris: The Revolutionary Decade that Gave the World Impressionism