Vintage view: horses in art

Kya deLongchamps nags us to take a closer look at the place of horses in art yesterday and today.

SOME 17,000 years ago when ancient peoples of Niaux, Lascaux, Vallon-ont-D’arc, used precious materials to paint on cave walls, they took the time to represent the horse — 364 of the 900 images were of equine animals. There’s no indication the horses were being ridden, but already they had earned not only respect as formidable prey animals, but had seized a place deep in the human imagination.

Horses as mounts provided an elevating, protective vehicle, making us faster, and as battle beasts- more dangerous to know too. Owning a horse, it’s difficult not to become emotionally involved, and for sentimental reasons as much as the financial crowing, the gentry, aristocracy, even the burgeoning middle class wanted images to survive after their horses foundered to age.