Standing Horse Viewed Frontally c. 16th century

Editor: So, this is Antonio Tempesta's "Standing Horse Viewed Frontally." I’m immediately drawn to its sort of stoic, almost comical, pose, and the technique—the cross-hatching—gives it such an odd texture. What do you make of it? Curator: It's like Tempesta is almost poking fun at the heroic equestrian portraits so popular at the time. Look at those bulging muscles rendered in such a busy, almost frantic, style. The horse seems less a symbol of power and more like…a very sturdy donkey. Editor: I see what you mean! Less warhorse, more workhorse. Curator: Precisely! And isn't there a quiet beauty in that subversion? It encourages us to question the grand narratives we often find in art. Editor: Absolutely. I will definitely look at horses differently from now on.