The Start of the Race of the Riderless Horses

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 fluid brushwork and anatomical precision, hallmarks of his style honed during his time as director of the French Academy in Rome. The compact 18⅛ × 21¼-inch canvas heightens the intimacy, drawing viewers into the chaos like ringside observers. This work exemplifies Romanticism's love for dramatic motion and popular fervor, contrasting the era's neoclassical restraint. Acquired through the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Collection in 1887, it now graces the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Paintings gallery, offering a vivid window into 19th-century spectacle and Vernet's equine expertise.