A Horse Hitched to a Post

A Horse Hitched to a Post is an intimate oil on canvas painting created by Eugène Delacroix around 1820. This work, dating from the pivotal 1801 to 1825 period, captures the artist at a critical juncture in his career, bridging the strict Neoclassical traditions of his training and the burgeoning Romantic movement that he would come to define. As a significant early example of French Romantic painting, the canvas shows Delacroix's developing preoccupation with animal studies, expressive anatomical rendering, and dramatic technique.

The piece presents a single horse tethered securely to an unseen wooden structure or post, rendered primarily as a focused study of anatomy and temperament rather than a narrative scene. Delacroix utilizes the oil medium to explore subtle tonal shifts in the animal's coat, contrasting the solidity and musculature of the horse with the vague, rapidly executed background elements. The subject matter suggests a preparatory work or an exercise in capturing movement and vitality, even in a relatively quiescent posture. The loose handling of the paint and the intense observation of the animal anticipate the expressive freedom that would mark Delacroix's mature style and his famous equine subjects.

Delacroix’s early efforts, such as this focused study, provide essential insight into the thematic interests and technical training of the leading French Romantic master. These foundational works preceded his achievement of widespread fame with powerful narrative compositions later in the decade. The physical painting resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Because of its historical significance and institutional ownership, the image of A Horse Hitched to a Post is widely available for academic study, and high-quality prints derived from institutional scans are frequently found within the public domain.