François Hippolyte Lalaisse (1812-1884) Pencil Drawing Of A Riding Or Racing Horse Jockey

The drawing depicts a horse at rest, in a classic profile pose. It is a fine and elegant saddle horse with long legs, reminiscent of a Thoroughbred or a racehorse or riding horse of the period. The animal is already saddled. The saddle appears to be an English or hunting saddle, quite light. The precise detail of the bit in the mouth and the bridle is also noteworthy. The line here seems confident, executed with a graphite pencil on tracing paper. Observing the hindquarters and croup, several contour lines are visible; these are "pentimenti": the artist adjusted the curve of the croup to find the perfect line. This drawing focuses on proportions and structure. The head is rendered in detail, with particular attention paid to the eye and nostrils, giving the animal an almost melancholic expression. To the left of the animal, a very lightly sketched human figure can be seen. This is probably the groom or stable boy whom the artist had begun to sketch before focusing solely on the animal. Note: Drawing on tracing paper pasted onto laid paper. Vertical fold mark in the center and marks on the tracing paper, traces of glue on the backing paper. Dimensions: 33.5 x 24.5 cm (sheet of paper)