Horses in Art

Illuminating and insightful glorious exploration of horses in art

Horses have appeared in works of art throughout history and across the globe, frequently as depictions of the horse in battle, as a form of transportation, or within the settings of racing, hunting, or breeding. Culturally, the horse is significant across the world.

This book seeks to explore the long and rich trajectory of art focusing on horses and equestrian art from their historic use in battle or as tools in agricultural labor up to their representation as an allegory for wildness and power in modern art to the current fascination with horse racing and breeding.

Offering in-depth explorations of over 50 artworks from the last 260 years, mostly in Western art, it explores the changing and fascinating relationship we have had with horses, from the classical paintings of George Stubbs to the subversive feminist performances of Rose English.

Chiedza Mhondoro is assistant curator, British art at Tate Britain where her main areas of research are on the art of the 18th century. She graduated from the Courtauld Institute of Art with an MA in art history.