Equestrian Academy 19th Century Drawing: Horse At A School Walk Or Parade

This drawing is a sketch executed with perfect mastery of technique, typical of 19th-century preparatory studies. It depicts a rearing horse or one in dynamic motion, rendered with great anatomical precision. A grid is visible on the drawing. This technique was used by artists to change scale (enlarging the drawing onto a larger canvas) or to ensure perfect proportions. The drawing is executed in graphite pencil or black chalk, with some highlights in sanguine (red), particularly visible on the reins and harness. The horse is shown in three-quarter view. Its head is finely detailed, expressing a certain tension or liveliness (open nostrils, alert eye). A saddle and reins are visible, suggesting this is a study for an equestrian portrait or battle scene, themes very popular in the 19th century (among artists such as Géricault and Delacroix). The right foreleg is folded in a noble gesture, typical of the "school walk" or a parade posture. Graphite pencil drawing with red highlights. Period: mid-19th century. The paper has an amber patina with foxing (small brown spots due to oxidation of the paper over time), confirming its age. Sheet dimensions: 17.1 x 25.2 cm