Rearing Horse and Trainer, drawn on a letter. Verso: Studies of Women and Children

Art Historical Context

William Etty's *Rearing Horse and Trainer drawn on a letter. Verso: Studies of Women Children* captures the artist's dynamic skill in a remarkably economical format. Created after 1810, this showcases Etty (1787–1849), a prominent British painter celebrated for his muscular figures and classical influences drawn from Renaissance masters like Michelangelo. Here, the recto features a spirited rearing horse guided by its trainer, evoking the raw energy and anatomical precision typical of Etty's early studies, while the verso reveals tender sketches of women and children, highlighting his versatility in capturing human forms. Executed in brush and brown wash over pen and ink on a manuscript letter—a practical reuse of paper common among artists of the Romantic era—this drawing exemplifies Etty's fluid technique. The brown wash adds depth and drama to the horse's powerful pose, blending ink's precision with wash's tonal subtlety for lifelike movement. Such preparatory works were vital to Etty's practice, informing his grand history paintings exhibited at the Royal Academy. Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints collection (Bequest of Mary Cushing Fosbugh, 1978), this intimate 9⅛ × 14⅞-inch gem offers a glimpse into Etty's studio life, bridging equestrian vigor with domestic warmth. It's a testament to how everyday correspondence became a canvas for artistic genius.

About the Artist

William Etty · 1787–1849

Painter mostly known for his life studies. He is particularly admired for the way he painted glowing and voluptuous flesh. He also did paintings of mythological and historical subjects. He trained at the Royal Academy schools and with Thomas Lawrence. British painter, York, England. Comment on works: Genre; Portraits; Mythology