Théodore Fort, Animal Painting, Horse, Farrier, 19th Century

Théodore Fort (1810-1896) – The Expert Farrier – White Horse with a Green Blanket – Oil on Canvas, 19th Century. A charming little painting by Théodore Fort depicting a white horse in front of a stable entrance. On the left, in the shadows, the farrier can be seen bent over his work, beneath the inscription "FARECHAL EXPERT" painted above. The horse, a small, stocky cob or riding pony type, with a very pale gray coat tending towards white, is shown in a slight sideways step, held on a lead rope. He wears a genuine green stable blanket edged in red, held in place by a surcingle: a sign of a well-groomed animal, protected after work or waiting to go to the riding school, typical of early 19th-century workhorses rather than a modern "breed" in the strict sense. Artist – Théodore Fort (1810-1896) French painter and watercolorist, son of the military painter Siméon Fort, Théodore Fort specialized early on in military scenes and especially in horses, which he depicted at rest, in the stable, or galloping, often with all four hooves suspended. He exhibited regularly at the Salon from the 1840s onward and became a true specialist in horses. Here, he focuses all attention on the animal: powerful croup, short back, strong limbs, tail rendered in fine locks, raking light sculpting its forms. Through his exclusive passion for the horse and his very direct observation of the animal, Fort belongs to the great equestrian tradition of the early 19th century: Théodore Géricault, of course, but also Carle and Horace Vernet in France, and George Stubbs in England. Like them, he favors the study of the horse captured in its natural state rather than a mere anecdotal backdrop. The green and red blanket adds a very “romantic” touch of color, enlivening the brown background and enhancing the chiaroscuro effect around the horse. Oil on canvas. Original canvas. Dimensions: Approximately 37 cm x 28 cm. Signed Fort lower right. Inscription “MARECHAL EXPERT” in the upper left corner of the painting. Attributed to Théodore Fort based on this signature, without a certificate of authenticity. Original canvas with old restoration: a clearly visible reinforcement patch on the reverse in the center, and a small patch at the top, with localized fillings and retouching on the front. Network of age-related craquelure, some rubbing and minor surface wear, very light scratches, varnish slightly soiled. Structurally sound, with minimal repainting. Théodore Fort, Fort painter, Fort painting, horse, horses, white horse, cob type horse, riding school pony, work horse, stable horse, equestrian art, equestrian painting, horse study, farrier, expert farrier, stable scene, 19th-century French school, Romantic painting, genre painting, oil on canvas, antique painting, small format, minor master, horse painter, Géricault, Vernet, Carle Vernet, Horace Vernet, George Stubbs, cavalry, riding school horse, stud farm, saddlery, riding, equestrian decor, equestrian decor, country house, rustic interior, riding parlor, horse collector, animal art collection, French Romantic art, antique oil painting, horse painting, 19th-century French school, original horse art, stable scene, farrier scene, rustic decor, country house style, painting signed Fort, restored original canvas, decorative painting, equestrian gift idea, gift for enthusiasts of horses, online auctions, eBay painting sale, online gallery, private collection, horse passion, horse art, farrier painting, stable decor, old horse painting, original antique painting, figurative painting, horse at rest, green stable blanket, surcingle, lunge line, small stocky horse, working horse, equestrian art enthusiast.