This 19th-century oil study attributed to British artist Heywood Hardy ARWS (1842-1933) depicts a horseback rider in the snow.
With gritty determination, the resilient power of an exhausted horse carries its rider onwards. He leans forward, clutching the reins, hunched into a battered overcoat, grizzled by the elements. While beyond, the final embers of a setting sun fall across a dystopian vision. Is he close to home? Did he make it to a welcoming fire?
It’s a robust study by Hardy who was regarded as one of the finest animal painters of his generation. He’s exploring movement, the interaction of hooves through snow, the silhouetted effects, and the ominous figure of a howling dog. It’s unclear whether he produced a finished version of this piece but the horse and rider bear some resemblance to those in ‘Duty’ from 1880.
Possible signature in the lower right. Held within a later gilt frame.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 21½” x 14” / 55cm x 36cm
Year of creation: c. 1875
Condition: Artwork presents well. Craquelure but the paint is stable.
Artist’s auction maximum: £95,000
Heywood Hardy was a highly regarded British painter of animals and equestrian subjects. He also painted landscapes and portraits. Trained initially by his father James Hardy Senior, he soon found his way to the illustrious École des Beaux-Arts in Paris where he studied under Isidore Pils. He was a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and his works are held in numerous public collections.
Learn more about Heywood Hardy ARWS in our directory.
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