Saddled Horse with a Study of a Rider

Saddled Horse with a Study of a Rider by Edgar Degas, executed between 1860 and 1869, offers a compelling insight into the artist’s rigorous study of anatomy and movement. This precise preparatory drawing utilizes graphite applied to tracing paper, which was then meticulously mounted onto sturdier wove paper. This technique allowed Degas, a master draftsman, to easily transfer or refine details crucial for subsequent oil paintings or pastels focused on equine subjects.

The work’s classification as a study reveals Degas’s analytical approach. The composition centers on a highly detailed rendering of a saddled horse, where the structure and musculature of the animal are delineated with stark clarity. Adjacent to the primary subject, the artist includes a separate, smaller sketch of a rider’s torso and legs. This fragmented arrangement underscores the preparatory nature of the piece, where Degas dissected individual components-the animal, the equipment, and the human figure-in isolation to achieve a mastery of the overall form and implied motion.

As a key figure in French art during the period spanning 1851 to 1875, Degas continually pushed beyond academic traditions, focusing his gaze on modern life and the documentation of fleeting movement. The subject of horse racing would become a significant motif in the artist's mature career, signaling his dedication to observation over idealized representation. This early drawing, which confirms his classical grounding adapted for contemporary themes, is preserved as part of the Drawing collection at the National Gallery of Art. As a vital historical record of the French art world, this public domain drawing provides valuable material for research, and high-quality prints are frequently derived from the original museum documentation.