A French artist, Alfred DeDreux came from a rather artistic family, his father was an architect and his younger sister was an artist as well.

Alfred appreciated the horse as a subject from the beginning of his artistic career & was well known for his equine portraits.

While he cultivated his art in France, it was the British animal painters who inspired him and some of his most celebrated portraits were produced while he was in Britain.

He became quite fashionable as a portrait artist during the mid 19th century, although he chose to concentrate on his equestrian (and dog) paintings. This is just a small selection of his prolific equine work.
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Rudolf Koller was born late in the 19th century in Zurich, Switzerland and his passion for painting & horses manifested itself at a young age. He loved to paint animals and dedicated much of his education to the study of animals.

His admiration of the animal world is clear in his eye for detail and rendering of their personality.

Rudolf was an equal opportunity animal lover and known to paint the rest of the barnyard too. I threw in a cow or two because they are simply too lovely not to share.
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Peter Nicolai Arbo was a Norwegian artist well known for chronicling Norwegian history and Norse mythology in his work. The romance of this theme can be found in almost all of his art, however it is his battle scenes & valiant warrior portraits that really shine through in his work.

Finding His Legs

As a student he studied at the Düsseldorf School of Art under Karl Ferdinand Sohn who was an animal & battle painter. Karl’s work clearly had an affect on young Peter who went on to paint similar motifs.

Although the subjects of his art aren’t the specifically horses, his attention to detail and sheer passion for all of his subjects is clear.

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Diego Velázquez was a Spanish Baroque painter who lived & painted from 1599-1660. He was the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV and a prolific portrait artist.

Although known for his rich portraiture of the royal family, he also entertained the occasional equestrian subject.

Leaving us with horses whose curves are lovingly portrayed by a truly gifted artist.

Spanish Horses

Growing up around such amazing horses, it’s no surprise that Velázquez was able to paint them so beautifully. The proud Spanish animals make such a distinguished mount for royalty.
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Horses have always played an important role in civilization whether they were used for agriculture, war, transportation or show. Their beauty and noble bearing makes them the perfect subjects for the most widespread of artistic mediums – coins.

Many western cultures have immortalized the equine animal on their coinage, often paying homage to the horses of war.

These examples date from early Greek & Romans times through the centuries to the US mints of the 21st century.
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