Study of a Dapple Grey

From the painting, we can see a majestic horse that is ash in color. The horse is on a dark ground like stable; as a result, this makes the horse the main focal point of the portrait. Also, the horse is supper hairy by the neck and has a distinctive whimsical tail.

In today's article, we'll go through an animal portrait titled Study of a Dapple Grey by Jean-Louis André Théodore Géricault. The horse is well fed and muscular, thus dictating that it’s well-kept by the owners. Not much is known about the painting or the horse at large. However, the horse’s stance and muscles can easily make us conclude that it was a superior horse that either served as a carriage horse, battle horse, or either as a mount horse. One could also say that the horse was all but the painter’s imagination since its well-posed and is not moving. However, this has was not the case since the scene was initially set up before painting began.

The artist has a good balance of colors since he’s able to create a perfect resemblance of a horse in a dark stable. Further, he shows this by inputting the right amount of light the stable; this can be illustrated by the way he paints the shadows below the horse. Lastly, he manages to make the rear side of the painting dark than the obverse side. There are various versions of the painting. However, the real piece of art can be identified by looking at the horse’s tail, the horse's feet, and the painting’s color. For example, the original painting has a tail rendered with weight and vigorous strokes. Also, the real picture has the horse slightly above the ground with bright patches and an unwavering gazing stand.

As seen above, the artist displays a mastery of animal anatomy by painting an elegant looking horse. As a result, the French painter showed that it was possible to paint a real horse that is teeming with life. Further, he also displays a perfect balance of colors by manipulating the light falling on the horse’s skin. Lastly, the artist’s strokes also portray his class when it comes to manipulating a paintbrush.

Art is a way of life that has been passed down to various generations. As a result, this way of life has given life to multiple artists who shaped the world of paints. Each artist often has a specific subject that not only suits their painting style but also brings out the best out of their skills. For instance, some often tend to draw what they feel, while others usually tend to draw sceneries, animals, nature, or even women.