A Rearing Horse, Facing Right, Before a Seascape 1590

Curator: Here we have Antonio Tempesta's "A Rearing Horse, Facing Right, Before a Seascape," an engraving from the late 16th or early 17th century now held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: What strikes me is the horse’s dramatic pose, almost theatrical. There's this raw energy, a sense of untamed power. Curator: The rearing horse was a common symbol of power and nobility, often used in equestrian portraits of rulers and military leaders. Tempesta was known for his battle scenes and animal studies, so this piece fits neatly within that context. Editor: Absolutely. The landscape amplifies that sense of dominion; the horse lords over the terrain, even the sea. And the tension! It's a moment of controlled explosion. Curator: Consider the engraving technique itself; the precise lines create texture and form, but also serve to amplify the drama inherent in the rearing posture, elevating what could have been a study of an animal to a grander statement on power. Editor: A powerful image, rendered with impressive control. I'll never see horses quite the same again. Curator: Indeed, it's a small picture that tells a large story.