Who painted A Marble Horse on the Quirinal Hill [recto]?

A Marble Horse on the Quirinal Hill [recto] was painted by Raphael in 1513.

Where can I see A Marble Horse on the Quirinal Hill [recto]?

A Marble Horse on the Quirinal Hill [recto] is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is A Marble Horse on the Quirinal Hill [recto]?

A Marble Horse on the Quirinal Hill [recto] is associated with High Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of A Marble Horse on the Quirinal Hill [recto]?

Museum-quality prints of A Marble Horse on the Quirinal Hill [recto] are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

A Marble Horse on the Quirinal Hill [recto]

Raphael , 1513

A Marble Horse on the Quirinal Hill [recto] is an ink drawing by the High Renaissance artist Raphael. It dates from 1513 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:recto, numerical notations overall; lower right verso in red chalk: disegno fate a Roma; lower center verso in red chalk: D-1-; lower right verso in brown ink: Perino 2 8; other numerical notations overall on verso

About this work

Overview

Created around 1513, this drawing is attributed to Raphael. Executed on laid paper, the work combines red chalk, pen, brown ink, and faint stylus and leadpoint marks. It depicts a horse captured in a moment of motion, its hind legs bearing its weight as it lifts its forequarters. The piece functions as a study of animal anatomy and movement rather than a finished illustration.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is a horse rendered in a rearing stance, emphasizing the animal’s power and balance. By focusing on the creature’s dynamic posture, Raphael explores the challenges of representing weight distribution and muscular tension, reflecting the Renaissance interest in accurate observation of nature and the study of proportion as a foundation for larger compositions.

Technique & Style

The interplay of line and shading creates a sense of immediacy, while the use of laid paper contributes a textured surface that records the artist’s hand.

Raphael employed red chalk to outline the horse’s mass, overlaying it with pen and brown ink to define contours and add depth. Subtle stylus underdrawings and traces of leadpoint indicate preliminary measurements, suggesting a methodical approach to proportion. The interplay of line and shading creates a sense of immediacy, while the use of laid paper contributes a textured surface that records the artist’s hand.

History & Provenance

The drawing is dated to the early 1510s, a period when Raphael was engaged in extensive anatomical studies for his larger projects. Though its later ownership record is sparse, the work has been recognized as part of Raphael’s corpus of preparatory studies, illustrating his investigative process in rendering complex figures.