Who created "The Start of the Race of the Riderless Horses"?

The Start of the Race of the Riderless Horses was created by Horace Vernet in 1820.

What medium is "The Start of the Race of the Riderless Horses"?

The Start of the Race of the Riderless Horses is Oil on canvas.

Is "The Start of the Race of the Riderless Horses" in the public domain?

Yes, The Start of the Race of the Riderless Horses is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

The Start of the Race of the Riderless Horses

Horace Vernet

1820

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

18 1/8 x 21 1/4 in. (46 x 54 cm)

Classification

Paintings

Department

European Paintings

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Collection, Bequest of Catharine Lorillard Wolfe, 1887

Accession Number

87.15.47

Tags

MenSpectatorsHorses

Art Historical Context

In the bustling energy of Rome's Carnival, Horace Vern captures the thrilling start of the *Race of the Riderless* in this 1820 oil on canvas. Known as the *barberi*, this ancient spectacle—dating back to Roman times and revived during the Renaissance—saw specially trained horses sprint riderless from Piazza del Pop to Piazza Navona, by ecstatic crowds. Vernet, a leading French Romantic painter famed for his dynamic depictions of horses and battles, immerses us in the moment: spectators lean forward in anticipation, whips crack, and horses rear with raw power. Vernet's mastery shines in his f...

The Start of the Race of the Riderless Horses

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