Detail of Horse's Head, Enlarged to Triple Size, Norman Royal Guard, No. 1 c. 1818

Here is the "Detail of Horse's Head, Enlarged to Triple Size, Norman Royal Guard, No. 1," by Carle Vernet, a drawing currently residing at The Art Institute of Chicago. The drawing immediately strikes us with its stark simplicity: black lines on a pale ground, emphasizing the horse's head. Vernet's composition is straightforward, yet it evokes a certain classical monumentality. The enlargement of the horse's head to triple size compels us to scrutinize every detail. Vernet uses line to convey texture and volume, from the flowing mane to the muscular contours of the face. The horse's eye, rendered with careful precision, reflects a sense of alertness. One wonders whether Vernet is using the horse as a signifier of something else: power, prestige, or even the glory of the Norman Royal Guard? The tension between naturalism and idealization makes the drawing resonate beyond mere representation. It serves not only as an artistic exploration of form but also as a cultural artifact, inviting us to question the values it embodies.