Horses might well be the eternal muse. They’ve shown up in paintings since—well since paintings. You’ll see exactly what we mean when you read about the first image on our list.
What is it about horses that inspire artists? Probably, it’s a combination of things. Historical significance. Horses opened up the world long before cars. Natural beauty. Can you imagine a more worthy or dynamic muse?
Why Horses?
So many of us think about horses mostly in the context of racing. We bet on Kentucky Derby. Tune into the biggest races of the year. Maybe we drive a little slower when passing a stable to get a good look.
What is it about this animal that inspires obsession in so many artists? Maybe it’s their beauty. Their elegance. Their almost impossible strength and athleticism.
Whatever the case, horses are as beautiful on the canvas as they are in real life.
Cave Paintings at Lascaux
Would you believe that the cave paintings at Lascaux depict the first Kentucky Derby? You wouldn’t? Ok. Good. That’s not true. The Derby is old, but it isn’t prehistoric, like these images. Ancient and mysterious, they may be one of the earliest representations of horses in action. The images actually reflect a wide range of animals.
Not only do they have obvious historical and anthropological value but they are also just beautiful. Unfortunately, the caves are closed. One thing ancient cave paintings don’t handle well is millions of grubby tourist hands. You can see replicas at a nearby museum.
Not the kind of person to fly to France to see a replica? You can still get good looks at the paintings. Online, they have been documented with archival-quality photos.
This, on databases that include information serious enough not to begin with a corny joke about the Kentucky Derby.
Interesting fact: the paintings were discovered by a teenage boy and his dog. The boy, and “Robot,” (isn’t that a whimsical name for a dog?) were out exploring the woods when they came across the paintings. One is forced to wonder if children of the tablet generation explore enough to discover the next great cave painting. Probably not.
“Whistlejacket” by George Stubbs (1762)
A life-sized portrait of a racehorse against a plain background, showcasing Stubbs’ anatomical mastery. The image almost has a three-dimensional quality when you view it for the first time. The massive canvas is set on a plain background. Maybe because of that, the horse, posed dynamically, almost appears to be leaping off the image.
George Stubbs is a true master. Though not so well known by people outside art circles as say Van Gogh, he revolutionized equine art through scientific study. He spent eighteen months dissecting horses at home. He even wrote a book about it. This more than probably made him an eccentric in his neighborhood, but it paid off in spades.
This magnificent painting is on display at the National Gallery in London, where visitors can appreciate its remarkable scale and detail in person.
“Race Horses at Long Champ,” Degas
Degas was a true master of the Impressionist era. “Race Horses at Longchamp,” is an atmospheric work that showcases around a dozen horses and their riders preparing for a race. Fans of Kentucky Derby fashion may be pleasantly surprised to see that racers were dressing like Easter Eggs even as far back as 1871.
Degas created multiple versions of racing scenes at Longchamp, reflecting his fascination with capturing motion and his known passion for horses. Unlike many Impressionists who painted outdoors, Degas preferred to sketch on-site but complete his works in the studio. The vibrant jockey silks in this painting pop against the muted landscape, creating a colorful spectacle similar to modern racing events.
Find it at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts.
“Guernica” by Pablo Picasso
Take one look and you’ll think something like “Yep. That’s a Picasso painting.” You might not think, “Clearly, this is a comment on the Spanish Civil War.” And yet it is.
The image depicts the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica in April 1937 by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy at the request of the Spanish Nationalists. The massive black and white painting shows fragmented figures in agony—a screaming woman holding her dead child, a bull, a fallen warrior with a broken sword, and most prominently, a horse in torment with its mouth open in a horrified scream.
Many people call it the most moving anti-war painting in the history of art. The history of art being what it is, that’s something of a grand statement. Here’s what is true. Guernica is interesting. Grabbing. Abstract. In other words, it has much in common with Picasso’s other work.
