1848
watercolor
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Cavalier and Two Ladies on Horseback is a 1848 watercolor by Constantin Guys, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows three people riding horses in a loose, quick style. The rider in front wears a top hat and a long coat, while the two behind have flowing dresses. The horses are mid-motion, with legs blurred as if galloping. The background is just a rough, muddy field—no details, just movement. The artist used watercolor to keep it loose and sketchy, almost like a quick draft. The colors are mostly browns and blacks, with no bright spots—just the shapes of people and horses. Next, look up watercolor to see how artists use this medium for fast, expressive sketches.
Constantin Guys (born Ernest-Adolphe Guys de Saint-Hélène, December 3, 1802 – December 13, 1892) was a French Crimean War correspondent, water color painter and illustrator for British and French newspapers.
See the richer artist page
