The Horse In Art

This post is the first in a series that I’ll be writing on The Horse In Art. I’m fortunate to have many lovely pieces gracing my walls at Little Paddocks. The problem, as I see it, is not enough walls!

Horse Artist Highlight – George Ford Morris

Black Horse and Scottie Dog (1950) — **“Black Horse and Scottie Dog” (1950)**

Painting Horses for 70 Years

George Ford Morris, was the foremost American equestrian artist of his time. He documented the fast changing world of the horse in American history in the early to mid 20th century. He was equally talented as a painter, sculptor, illustrator and lithographer. He was mainly self-taught but attended classes at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1888 and later at the Academie Julien in Paris (1925). In the early twentieth century, Morris worked mainly from his Thirty-Third Street studio in New York City.

Concentrating almost solely upon the art of the horse, George Ford Morris was a frequent contributing artist to such publications as The American Horseman, Breeder’s Gazette, American Field, National Horseman and Thoroughbred of California. He also illustrated for national publications such as Scribner’s and Century magazines according to Artvee.

It’s no surprise that Morris is one of my favorite equine artists. His beautiful renditions of the American Saddlebred are what first attraced me to his work.

"Head Of A Five Gated Champion" 1949 — **“Head Of A Five Gated Champion” 1949**

"Silver Mac" 1930 — **“Silver Mac” 1930**

He often featured dogs “going along for the ride!”

Equestrian Inspired Inclusion

However, Morris did not limit himself to Saddlebreds. He included other breeds, and diciplines in his work.

"Man O' War" 1921 — **“Man O’ War” 1921**

"Shire Horse" 1954 — **“Shire Horse” 1954**

"Standardbred" 1911 — **“Standardbred” 1911**

"White Thoroughbred" — **“White Thoroughbred”**

Commercial Art

Morris took a more illustrative approach with his equestrian inspired commercial art.

National Horse Show - Madison Square Garden 1912 — **National Horse Show – Madison Square Garden 1912**

Sculpture

He didn’t produce a lot in sculpture, but certainly had the talent for it!

He Loved Dogs Too…

Dog Show Poster

And cats..

"Mr. and Mrs. Frederick C. Tatum's Persain Cat" — **“Mr. and Mrs. Frederick C. Tatum’s Persain Cat”**

And The Beauty Of Nature

Incomming Waves Painting — **Incomming Waves**

This beautiful piece hangs on my office wall. The lady “up” is reminicient of my first riding teacher, Harriet Himmelstine of Riverview Valley Farm in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

Lady on horse — **Lucky Jacqueline, 1943**

This series on The Horse In Art has moved me to reflect on beauty, and what it means to us in our lives. I quote renound architect, Frank Lloyd Wright…

“The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes. If you foolishly ignore beauty, you will soon find yourself without it. Your life will be impoverished. But if you invest in beauty, it will remain with you all the days of your life.”

Janet & The Duke Of Denver horse — **Janet & The Duke Of Denver**

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