An Antique Sculpture of a Horse

Jacques-Louis David

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of a rearing horse. The drawing captures a horse in an energetic pose, with its front legs raised. The sketch is rendered on aged, slightly stained paper, with careful attention paid to the contours of the horse's body, its musculature, and the fluid motion of its tail. Delicate shading gives the drawing depth and a sense of three-dimensionality. French text is written alongside the horse.