Who painted Horses Going to a Fair?

Horses Going to a Fair was painted by Théodore Géricault in 1821.

Where can I see Horses Going to a Fair?

Horses Going to a Fair is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Horses Going to a Fair?

Horses Going to a Fair is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Horses Going to a Fair?

Museum-quality prints of Horses Going to a Fair are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Horses Going to a Fair

Théodore Géricault , 1821

Horses Going to a Fair is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Théodore Géricault. It dates from 1821 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:by later hand, lower center in graphite: Chevaux allant au Marché; lower left in stone: J. Gericault invt.; lower center in stone: HORSES GOING TO A FAIR / London Published by Rodwell & Martin New Bond St. Feb. 1 1821

About this work

Overview

Théodore Géricault’s 1821 lithograph Horses Going to a Fair presents a line of four horses moving toward a distant fairground. The image is rendered in a loose, sketch‑like manner, with uneven, energetic lines that convey motion rather than precise detail.

Subject & Meaning

The work focuses on equine movement, a recurring interest for Géricault, who sought to capture the vitality of animals in transit. By arranging the horses in a single file, the print emphasizes the collective rhythm of travel toward a communal event.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, a relatively new print medium in the early nineteenth century, the image was drawn directly onto a stone surface with greasy ink. The resulting prints retain the raw, unrefined quality of a rapid sketch, highlighting Géricault’s experimental approach to the medium.

History & Provenance

Created during a period when Géricault was expanding his practice beyond oil painting, the lithograph reflects his engagement with Romantic ideals of dynamism and emotional intensity. It forms part of a broader series of animal studies produced in the early 1820s.

Context

At the time, lithography was emerging as a democratic means of reproducing images, allowing artists like Géricault to explore new compositional possibilities. The depiction of horses en route to a fair aligns with contemporary interests in everyday life and public spectacles.