 |
| The Duel, an 1895 painting by Rosa Bonheur |
It wasn't until I read Judith Forbis' The Classic Arabian Horse, that I began to understand the impact that art can have upon breeding Arabian horses. Through the pages of Judi's timeless book, I was exposed to artists like Adolf Schreyer, Eugene Delacroix, Victor Adam, Alfred De Dreux and Carle Vernet. The collective works of these artists and others, had served breeders, who were desirous for a standard that would guide them, in breeding horses.
"The Prince had made a collection of old prints and drawings showing the traditional Arab horse, the horse of poetry and romance. These serve as his guide, and it is his aim to breed to this standard." - Skilled Horsemanship, Lt. Col. Sidney Golschmidt, included within The Classic Arabian Horse by Judith Forbis
The Arabian Insider interview with Gene Lacroix was interesting, for the same reason, as we learned that Dr. Eugene Lacroix, Gene's father, impressed by the art of Adolf Schreyer, wished to breed horses that looked like the Bedouin horses depicted in Adolf Schreyer's paintings.
"By this time, he'd more defined the Arabian horse he wanted to own. And it was the kind of horse that he saw in the Adolf Schreyer paintings. I think Adolf Schreyer is in the late 1800's or in the mid-1800's and it was of the Bedouin Arabian horse. That's the kind of horse he dreamed of. That was his goal." - Gene Lacroix in an Arabian Insider interview, talking about his father, Dr. Eugene Lacroix
Rosa Bonheur, born in 1822, was a French artist, recognized for her very realistic paintings of animals. Perhaps you know of her most famous painting, The Horse Fair, which is part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York?
 |
| The Horse Fair, Rosa Bonheur, 1855 |
What I like most about Rosa Bonheur's paintings is that the animal is the centerpiece of the painting. If you will notice, the humans are out-of-focus, their faces indistinguishable, as they are of secondary importance. The expression of the animal was more important to Rosa Bonheur, as she felt that the expression was key to the animal's soul. In a way, it reminds me of why certain photos are favorites over other equally beautiful photos, only because of the expression that the photographer was able to capture on camera.
In Drinkers of the Wind, Carl Raswan also writes of expression. Coincidence? Within Wudiyeh's story, he tells us that the Bedouin called it Yuminuna B'il Ghayb, a contemplative expression conveying a rational ability to not only think and reason but to also, meditate on all that is unseen. While the majority of Rosa Bonheur's equine artwork depicts horses of different breeds and not necessarily Arabian horses; what her art may provide is insight for the intangible qualities all horses possess, to inspire us spiritually and perhaps, guide us in the way we are to go, all for the love of a horse.
No comments:
Post a Comment