Who painted Sketch for Automedon with the Horses of Achilles?

Sketch for Automedon with the Horses of Achilles was painted by Henri Regnault in 1867.

Where can I see Sketch for Automedon with the Horses of Achilles?

Sketch for Automedon with the Horses of Achilles is held by Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

What movement is Sketch for Automedon with the Horses of Achilles?

Sketch for Automedon with the Horses of Achilles is associated with Orientalism.

Can I buy a print of Sketch for Automedon with the Horses of Achilles?

Museum-quality prints of Sketch for Automedon with the Horses of Achilles are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Sketch for Automedon with the Horses of Achilles

Henri Regnault , 1867

Sketch for Automedon with the Horses of Achilles is an unspecified painting by the Orientalist artist Henri Regnault. It dates from 1867 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

About this work

Overview

Henri Regnault’s c. 1867 oil sketch portrays a figure from the Iliad, Automedon, the charioteer of Achilles, grasping the reins of two white horses. The composition centers the rider in a white tunic, flanked by the horses whose dark manes contrast with their luminous coats. The background recedes into an indistinct, shadowy space, emphasizing the immediacy of the moment.

Subject & Meaning

The work references the mythic episode in which Automedon, tasked with guiding Achilles’ horses, confronts the chaos of battle. By isolating the charioteer and his steeds, Regnault highlights themes of duty and control amid turmoil, inviting viewers to contemplate the tension between human agency and the wild energy of the horses.

Technique & Style

Executed with brisk, visible brushwork, the sketch captures motion through loose strokes and a limited palette. The stark whites of the horses are set against deep browns and blacks that suggest a night‑time or stormy atmosphere. Regnault’s emphasis on gesture over detail reflects a study intended to convey dynamism rather than a finished narrative tableau.

History & Provenance

Created around 1867, the piece served as a preparatory study for a larger composition that Regnault never completed. It entered the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where it remains on view, offering insight into the artist’s process and his engagement with classical subjects during the mid‑nineteenth century.

Sketch for Automedon with the Horses of Achilles, Henri Regnault

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Artist & collection

Artist

Henri Regnault

Born in Paris on October 31, 1843, Henri-Georges-Alexandre Regnault was the son of Henri Victor Regnault, the celebrated chemist and professor at the Collège de France.