Paintings of Horses
Painting of „Eclipse“ (1764 – 1789), a free reconstruction based on traditional descriptions and the prepared skeleton of the stallion, more infos see below and here
Reversed version of the painting by George Stubbs (1724-1806), but without the typical Baroque features. My image shows the depiction in the 21st century, approximately the original size, although not in height, because it was originally a commissioned work intended to depict an equestrian portrait, or so it says.
American Thoroughbreds
a transatlantic art project
Society is becoming increasingly politicized, and the two camps are becoming enemies, not only within individual states and their parties, but also in terms of the global world order with its division into East and West. Currently, this battle is taking place between Europe and the USA. Europe is forgetting its century-old bond with the USA and, for the first time in history, is declaring it its enemy. German’s largest news magazine puts it this way: Europe must choose between „plague and cholera“, in military terms: Americans are thus perceived as a plague. Europe wants to „strike back“, we are declaring „war“ on the USA, the USA is „fascist“, and all this is said to those who continue to provide for our security, for our free existence at all, pay for it since about hundred years, and still die for it. We owe them our lives, so to say, but at least we should give them whatever they want, with all our hearts. We should offer them everything we have, we should simply trust them to do the right for us. Because THEY are us too; without them we are nothing, and not the other way around.
So, I cannot support this attitude and, as an artist, I firmly oppose this anti-Americanism. I only paint horses, „nags“, but that doesn’t mean they can’t also carry a political message, namely the vision of Europe and America as one great united nation – I think they are good enough to carry also a message at all.
At the same time, I refuse to paint a german horse, not for a million.
I exclude England, as a close ally of the USA, from this rule if they do not join the European trade embargo against the USA; this also applies to all other European countries.
You don’t only look at the picture, it also looks at You!
You can’t compare this with the usual depictions of horses on small canvas formats. You now have a new animal friend in your home – however he doesn’t need to be fed! He just stands there, doesn’t say anything, but he knows …His muteness is more meaningful than any comment. He is sublime, and at the same time captivates you every day by its beauty. His gaze penetrates and makes him your closest ally – you never want to miss him.
The big format
Eclipse, the 18th Century race horse
ECLIPSE (1764-1789) was undefeated and considered to be the greatest British racehorse of his time. His Sire line has become dominant among modern Thoroughbreds worldwide. It has been estimated that Eclipse is a tail-male ancestor of 95pc of contemporary thoroughbreds, nearly every living thoroughbred in the world.
After his death his skeleton was prepared and used as the basic construction for this painting.