Artwork
Kladruber Hengst "Scarramuie" mit einem Bereiter
Kladruber Hengst "Scarramuie" mit einem Bereiter is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Johann Georg de Hamilton. It dates from 1721 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Johann Georg de Hamilton’s 1721 oil painting, titled Kladruber Hengst “Scarramuie” mit einem Bereiter, is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. The work presents a rider beside a white Kladruber stallion that has risen onto its hind legs, set against a modestly detailed landscape of trees, a distant house, and a cloud‑filled sky.
Subject & Meaning
The composition conveys a sense of aristocratic leisure and the prestige associated with breeding and displaying a prized Kladruber.
The central figures, a gentleman in a black coat trimmed with gold, a white shirt, and a hat held in his right hand, stand in a poised, dignified stance beside the rearing horse, whose green saddle blanket and bridle with a matching bow add a touch of ceremonial splendor. The composition conveys a sense of aristocratic leisure and the prestige associated with breeding and displaying a prized Kladruber.
Technique & Style
Hamilton employs chiaroscuro to model the forms, using strong contrasts of light and shadow that give the rider and horse a three‑dimensional presence against the softer, atmospheric background. The brushwork is refined, with careful attention to the sheen of the horse’s coat and the texture of the rider’s garments, while the landscape recedes in muted tones, enhancing depth.
History & Provenance
Created in 1721, the painting entered the holdings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains on display. Its provenance traces back to the early 18th‑century Austrian court circles that favored depictions of prized equine breeds, reflecting the period’s interest in documenting noble pastimes and animal husbandry.
Artist & collection
