French Race Horses
1797
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1797
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
French Race Horses is a 1797 ink by Carle Vernet, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a fast-moving race with four brown horses pulling a cart, their muscles tense and legs mid-stride. The driver wears a red coat and a hat with a feather, gripping the reins tightly. In the background, a large orange hot-air balloon floats above trees, while colorful flags flutter on poles. The text below says this is about French racehorses, inspired by Roman-style chariots. The artist used hand coloring to add detail, making the horses and sky pop. Next, look up lithography to see how this print was made.
