The lady and the unruly horse

Share

A woman faces a horse that will not be easily handled, and the title, written in pen on the mat, is the clearest guide to what the scene is meant to show. The shelflist card links the print to the name Fenderich, Ch., but that attribution is unverified and no date has been recorded. Scenes of riders and drivers contending with spirited horses were a common print subject in the 19th century, when horsemanship was a valued social skill, and a woman who kept her composure with a difficult mount could stand for poise as much as for athletic ability. Look at how the artist balances the animal's energy against the rider's control.

More from the Horses collection

Snapshots of the Past helps heritage brands, museums, historians and storytellers tell stories with history: historic prints, image licensing and historical storytelling drawn from more than 25 years of research and curation.