There’s no denying that horses are beautiful creatures, that is partly why equestrians are crazy about them, and why horses have been a popular subject of artwork for centuries. So if you’re looking to indulge your passion for horses through a more creative channel, treat someone who is mad about horses, or are perhaps looking for an equestrian-related investment that doesn’t require feeding, buying a statement piece of horse art could be for you ed-danmark.com.
If you’re looking to buy art for the first time and don’t know where to start, going to an exhibition such as the annual one put on by the Society of Equestrian Artists with over 100 exhibitors could be a good start. Art dealer Sally Mitchell also suggests buying a print of a work by an artist first “as a cheap way into the market and a way to learn whether you can live with an artist’s works or not”. In fact she cautions against buying a piece of art that immediately hits you “as it can get tedious, but if a work has subtleties, you’ll find the longer you live with it, the more you like it”.
Once you’ve got the piece, whether it’s bought as an investment or just because you love it and horses, remember to take care of it. “Try to avoid placing paintings in rooms with fluctuating temperatures that might impact the paint surface,” says Robin. “If it’s a room with an open fire, put it behind the glass”. Acid-free mounts and UV glass to prevent fading and discolouration must also be considered for any works on paper.
Now, are your ready to discover some nice pieces of art?
Bénédicte Gelé — Equine Nude 91t, €450
Bénédicte takes a minimalist approach to capturing the figure of the horse, inspired by a love of drawing human nudes at art school. “What is important to me is to keep the motion in the line, to have the minimum of details to keep the dynamism of the body. Actually, to say more with less.” Note that in many of her works she does not paint in ears as she believes it is to obvious to read a horse’s expression from them – “I prefer to let the spectator imagine what he feels in front of a head”.
Price range: Her works start at €20 for a sketch and can up to €2,500.
www.saatchiart.com/benedictegele
André Brasilier — Grande Fantasia Marocaine, POA
French artist André Brasilier’s equestrian works are extremely sought after, as is evidenced by the fact his horse paintings have increased in value by 500% over the past six years. Bright pallets and a joyfulness to the motion of the horse marks out André’s works. Now in his late 80s, he’s currently exhibiting in London, his first return to the English capital in 12 years at the Opera Gallery.
www.operagallery.com
Malcolm Coward — Crossing the brook, SOLD
Malcolm is a much-lauded member of the equestrian artist community and his paintings don’t remain unsold for long, particularly the hunting ones, so you’ll have to be quick to snap one up. He’s very much an impressionist with a preference for light versus detail.
Price range: €350 – €5,500
www.sallymitchell.com/artists/malcolm-coward-sea
Equi-Arte by Caroll Porta
Caroll Porta is an uprising artist from Belgium. She focusses on the details of the sport and the equestrian passion and movement in general. Porta’s work doesn’t stay in galleries for long. It’s a bit an outsider, but we love the brush works ….
Price range: €3,500 – €7,500
www.equi-arte.be