More Equine Art...

In the beginning, there was Lascaux.  Paintings of Palaeolithic ponies located deep inside cave complexes.  There's theories that the cave-paintings depict animals that are already dead - the paintings originated as sympathetic magic to assist the hunters in their quest for prey.  I don't really care why they were painted in the first place.  They're still sophisticated pieces of art and well worthy of admiration.

There's a number of items from antiquity which portray horses beautifully.  But the pinnacle must be the Elgin Marbles.  Or the 'Parthenon Sculptures', as the BM now politely refers to them. 

 

This image has been downloaded from the British Museum's website - for much more on the Elgin Marbles, check out http://www.britishmuseum.org/search_results.aspx?searchText=elgin+marbles

Politics aside, I love these sculptures.  There's still debate over who the figures depicted on the Parthenon frieze were; one theory suggests that they're the heroes of Athens who died during the Battle of Marathon.  To be associated with a horse in Ancient Greek inconography is supposed to be an indication of heroism.  Even though the foot-soldiers, or hoplites, were more highly thought of in the military pecking order!

I shall now skim foward several thousand years and return to Crawhall.  This is 'The Whipper-In', the picture I idolised in absentia for almost twenty years.    The photograph was taken from a framed print by a not-too competent photographer (i.e. me) so I hope you'll forgive itsinadequacies.  If you can, go and see it in the flesh (or rather gouache & linen!).  It's really worth it. 

 
 

Postscript:  The eagle-eyed amongst you (i.e. Treena) may notice that there is quite a striking resemblance between the huntsman's horse and my former partner-in-crime, Squire.  Same horse, slightly different colour.  There's a link here, albeit a peculiar one.  When I first saw Squire, it was love at first sight because he reminded me of the Athenian horses on the Parthenon.  And when I saw 'The Whipper-In', it was love at first sight because the horse reminded me of Squire!

Yes, I will post an image of Squire soon enough.  But for now, I'd better do some writing.  It's Sunday afternoon, it's the Writer's Group tomorrow and I'm still not done with the piece I'm planning to take it for disembowelling, er, I mean Constructive Criticism.

 

More Equine Art...

In the beginning, there was Lascaux.  Paintings of Palaeolithic ponies located deep inside cave complexes.  There's theories that the cave-paintings depict animals that are already dead - the paintings originated as sympathetic magic to assist the hunters in their quest for prey.  I don't really care why they were painted in the first place.  They're still sophisticated pieces of art and well worthy of admiration.

There's a number of items from antiquity which portray horses beautifully.  But the pinnacle must be the Elgin Marbles.  Or the 'Parthenon Sculptures', as the BM now politely refers to them. 

 

This image has been downloaded from the British Museum's website - for much more on the Elgin Marbles, check out http://www.britishmuseum.org/search_results.aspx?searchText=elgin+marbles

Politics aside, I love these sculptures.  There's still debate over who the figures depicted on the Parthenon frieze were; one theory suggests that they're the heroes of Athens who died during the Battle of Marathon.  To be associated with a horse in Ancient Greek inconography is supposed to be an indication of heroism.  Even though the foot-soldiers, or hoplites, were more highly thought of in the military pecking order!

I shall now skim foward several thousand years and return to Crawhall.  This is 'The Whipper-In', the picture I idolised in absentia for almost twenty years.    The photograph was taken from a framed print by a not-too competent photographer (i.e. me) so I hope you'll forgive itsinadequacies.  If you can, go and see it in the flesh (or rather gouache & linen!).  It's really worth it. 

 
 

Postscript:  The eagle-eyed amongst you (i.e. Treena) may notice that there is quite a striking resemblance between the huntsman's horse and my former partner-in-crime, Squire.  Same horse, slightly different colour.  There's a link here, albeit a peculiar one.  When I first saw Squire, it was love at first sight because he reminded me of the Athenian horses on the Parthenon.  And when I saw 'The Whipper-In', it was love at first sight because the horse reminded me of Squire!

Yes, I will post an image of Squire soon enough.  But for now, I'd better do some writing.  It's Sunday afternoon, it's the Writer's Group tomorrow and I'm still not done with the piece I'm planning to take it for disembowelling, er, I mean Constructive Criticism.