Portrait Study of Copenhagen, the Duke of Wellington’s Horse 1820 - 1821

Jan Willem Pieneman made this portrait study of Copenhagen, the Duke of Wellington’s horse, using pencil, pen and brown ink, brush, and watercolor. The effect is light and transparent, with the brown paper visible beneath the drawing. It's interesting to see how Pieneman combined different media to explore the textures and forms of the horse and rider. The pencil lines create a delicate framework, while the ink and watercolor add depth and tonal variation. Notice the contrast between the detailed rendering of the horse's head and the more sketch-like treatment of the rider's body. The whole thing is a wonderful demonstration of how an artist uses their tools to bring a subject to life on paper. The work reveals the labor and skill involved in creating an image, and how the material qualities of paper, pencil, ink, and watercolor contribute to its aesthetic effect. Paying attention to these aspects allows us to understand the artwork more fully, and to question the distinctions between fine art and craft.