Horse racing might be one of the rare sports that is wrapped around tradition and history and we can witness the passion for the sport throughout the years through art.
Horses have always been popular in the world of art because they symbolize many things like strength, power, endurance, courage, and more. However, horse racing is something different.
These art pieces usually showcase the thrill of the sport and the excitement that comes from watching the races.
Popular equestrian art pieces are displayed at horse racing tracks, museums and private art collections.
Art and horse racing have always shared a tight connection throughout the years, and in this article, we will learn more about this bond and some of the most popular horse racing paintings.
The Connection Between Art and Horse Racing
The connection between art and horse racing dates back thousands of years. It goes way back to the ancient times when the first traces of horse racing as a sport were spotted.
This puts us in a time machine and takes us back to Ancient Greece, where archeologists found Greek pottery that includes chariot race paintings.
The connection between these two worlds persisted throughout the years and the express factor or the art form evolved from pottery, to statues, and then to paintings.
Most Popular Equine Art
Horse racing and horses in general are a big subject and they can be used in a form of art in many different ways. Some used horses to symbolize strength and power, which is why most emperors were painted on horseback, while other paintings show the unique character, emotions, and beauty of these majestic beasts.
One of the most common forms of equine art is portraiture. Throughout the years, horse owners and enthusiasts of the sport wanted art pieces of their favorite steeds. These portraits capture the beauty of each horse. Some of the most renowned artists like George Stubbs, Fred Stone, and Sir Alfred Munnings are leaders of this category and have left a huge mark on the world of equine art.
Horse Racing Art
Even though horse portraits are one of the most popular subjects for equine artists, with the popularity of horse racing as a sport, many artists started to get into the horse racing scene.
Capturing thrilling moments of a race, faces of jockeys, or the exciting photo finishes throughout history were transformed into lively paintings that showcase the true colors of horse racing. These paintings not only evoke excitement in people but also show the true tension of the sport and its beauty.
Best Horse Racing Paintings of All Time
The Derby Day: William Powell Frith
This is an extraordinary painting that puts us in a time machine and gives us the ability to travel back in time to see what it was like watching the Epsom Derby in England a Long time ago.
There are few ‘wow’ factors about this painting. First of all, it is vibrant, exciting, chaotic, and full of thrills. This is the perfect way to explain what is like to watch a horse racing event in person. On top of that, the painting is really big.
The Epsom Derby is one of the first successful stories of modern-day horse racing, and it is nice to go back to a place that might be the roots of horse racing as a sport.
The painting shows thousands of spectators in a truly chaotic fashion, and the most impressive thing is the attention to detail.
Degas: The Racetrack: Edgar Degas
Here we have a painting that might not have the same excitement as “The Derby Day” but it still shows the true colors of the sport. Edgar Degas was a French artist who is best known for depicting ballet dancers, and of course, horse racing scenes.
He loved painting jockeys, especially during tense moments in a race. This painting shows the beginnings of the sport, where a couple of amateur jockeys race to the finish line, and a bunch of spectators are here to witness the action.
The Road to the Derby: Leroy Neiman
Want something striking to look at? Well, the Road to the Derby by Leroy Neiman is the perfect example. It is quite different from the previous two art pieces we mentioned, just because it is painted in vibrant non-realistic colors that make the painting striking to look at.
Leroy Neiman is one of the most popular artists when it comes to inverted color paintings. He was an American artist who saw the vivid nature of horse racing and wanted to paint a horse racing scene where a couple of jockeys race to the finish line.
The attention to detail, vibrant colors, and intensity of the jockeys perfectly captures horse racing and what it represents.
