Artwork
Horses
Horses is an oil painting by the Naturalist artist Enrico Coleman. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina.
About this work
Overview
Enrico Coleman’s 1892 oil painting Horses portrays a lively scene of several dark‑brown and black horses racing across a sandy terrain under a stormy sky. A lone rider, dressed in a light jacket and hat, attempts to direct the herd, his hand raised with a stick. The work exemplifies Coleman’s naturalistic approach, emphasizing movement and atmospheric conditions.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures the tension between human control and animal vigor, illustrating a moment of struggle as the rider strives to manage the swift, unruly horses. The stark contrast between the dark sky and the bright sand heightens the sense of urgency, while the visible brushwork conveys the immediacy of the scene.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting displays Coleman’s characteristic naturalism, with loose, discernible brushstrokes that suggest the texture of the sand and the sheen of the horses’ coats. The palette is restrained, dominated by earth tones and muted blues, reinforcing the realistic depiction of light and atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Created in 1892, Horses entered the collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires, where it remains on display. The work forms part of the museum’s holdings of late‑19th‑century European paintings, reflecting the institution’s interest in naturalistic genre scenes.
Context
Coleman, an Italian painter of British ancestry nicknamed “Il Birmano” for his Oriental features, was chiefly known for landscapes of the Roman Campagna and the Agro Pontino, often integrating botanical details such as orchids. Horses diverges from his typical pastoral subjects, focusing instead on dynamic animal movement within an open setting.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Enrico Coleman (21 or 25 June 1846 – 14 February 1911) was an Italian painter of British nationality.
Museum
National Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina
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