{"id":14033,"date":"2021-08-25T13:15:41","date_gmt":"2021-08-25T12:15:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fineart-restoration.co.uk\/?p=14033"},"modified":"2022-11-25T10:13:59","modified_gmt":"2022-11-25T10:13:59","slug":"saddle-up-the-history-and-restoration-of-horses-in-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fineart-restoration.co.uk\/news\/saddle-up-the-history-and-restoration-of-horses-in-art\/","title":{"rendered":"Saddle up: the history and restoration of horses in art"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our equine friends have always been a vital part of history, in war, commerce and companionship. From the 17,000 year old Lascaux cave paintings, to the Victorian scenes of hunting and racing, horses have also been a recurrent character in art history, appearing in more paintings and sculptures than any other animal in the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whilst equestrian portraits have their own genre in painting, artworks featuring a lone horse are also common. Many of these seek to commemorate a renowned racehorse or hunting partner, with as much personality and detail as a human sitter. Their popularity means that our conservators often come across these portraits in our studio, which is why we have chosen to explore horse painting restoration further. <\/span><\/p>\n

In this article we will look into the history of horses in art, as well as the tailored conservation treatments which may be recommended when an equine portrait comes into our restoration studio.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"HorsesAbove: A detail of the white horse in ‘Wolf and Fox Hunt’ by Peter Paul Rubens, 1616<\/em><\/h6>\n

The symbolism of horses in art history<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Culturally, horses were an important part of ancient history. Not only were they an enduring part of economy and travel, but worked to pull the chariots of both powerful men and gods. In Greek mythology the chariot of Helios was pulled by four white horses, who travelled from east to west across the sky to rise and set the sun. Whilst the mares of Diomedes were a subject of horror, these man-eating beasts were seen as wild and uncontrolled. Horses were both a symbol of man\u2019s dominance over nature, and the still untamed areas which had a romantic magnificence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"AncientAbove: an architrave with sculpted metope of the sun god Helios and his horses from temple of Athena at Troy, 300-280 BCE<\/em><\/h6>\n

In ancient Rome the practice of bronze statues depicting emperors on horseback became symbolic of their military power and the hold over the empire. Not only did it give them extra height in their appearance, but a strength that was beyond their human capability. Later, as Christianity began to dominate Europe, depictions of horses grew less frequent until the artistic revolution of the renaissance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"RomanAbove: prints featuring an equestrian statue of the Roman Emperor Tiberius and an equestrian statue of King Henry II of France<\/em><\/h6>\n

By the 16th century, there was a resurgence of the powerful themes of Roman bronzes, with commissions of sitters on horseback in both paintings and sculptures. A knowledge of ancient Rome and its late leaders gave important connotations to equestrian artworks. The strength presented in the portraits of Titian and the later baroque pieces of Rubens and Velazquez, show not only a present influence, but ties to great powers of the past through this cultural hint towards ancient empires.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Across Europe there was a perception that royal dominance was inherited from the glory of past leaders, especially that of famous figures such as Charlemagne. This further fueled the desire for such an association in their equestrian portraits, whether or not the sitter was a skilled rider. In such paintings where the horse is rearing and wild, symbolism also exists of the patron\u2019s ability to control and conquer nature, even in its most challenging form.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"EquestrianAbove: equestrian portraits by Fran\u00e7ois Clouet (16th century), Vel\u00e1zquez (17th century), Georg Christoph Grooth (18th century)<\/em><\/h6>\n

Famous horses in art history<\/b><\/p>\n