It's the Year of the Horse! Here Are 6 Iconic Horse Works From Throughout Art History | Artnet News

"Welcome to the Year of the Fire Horse! The seventh animal sign of the East Asian zodiac is a symbol of freedom and vitality, and with its elegance and stamina, it has long been a source of artistic inspiration, from the 36,000-year-old cave paintings in the Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave in France to Xu Beihong's heroic depiction of galloping horses in the 20th century. Here are six iconic horse-themed artworks from throughout history."

"A staple of the collection of National Gallery in London, this masterpiece by the Liverpool-born painter George Stubbs is one of the most iconic paintings of a horse in Western art. Whistlejacket was an Arabian chestnut stallion that had great success on the racing track, including at the 2,000-guinea race at York in 1759. Stubbs was commissioned by Whistlejacket's owner, Charles Watson Wentworth, the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (who became prime minister twice), to paint a life-size portrait around 1762, after his horse had retired from racing. The lively and meticulous depiction of the beautiful horse, without a rider or any riding equipment attached, underscores its free spirit. Works like this sealed Stubbs's status as a master anatomist. On March 12, the National Gallery will open the exhibition "Stubbs: Portrait of a Horse," with a range of works on paper and paintings, including Scrub, a bay horse belonging to the Marquess of Rockingham (about 1762), which is said to be the only life-size horse portrait by the artist held in a private collection. The show will run through May 31."

Horses function as enduring symbols of freedom, vitality, elegance and stamina and have inspired artists from prehistoric cave painters to modern masters. Artistic treatments of horses span 36,000 years, including Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave images, Tang dynasty court painting and 20th-century heroic depictions. Whistlejacket (ca. 1762) by George Stubbs presents a life-size Arabian chestnut stallion painted after retirement, emphasizing anatomical precision and the horse's free spirit; an exhibition at the National Gallery runs March 12–May 31. Night-Shining White (ca. 750) attributed to Han Gan exemplifies Tang mastery of equine anatomy.

Read at Artnet News