Equestrian Pointing Left n.d.

Charles Parrocel made this drawing, called "Equestrian Pointing Left", using pen and brown ink with gray wash on laid paper. Parrocel was a painter from a family of artists who specialized in military subjects, and it's no surprise that this drawing has the air of military life about it. It invites us to consider the social conditions that made this kind of image popular in early 18th century France. Horses and horsemanship were traditionally associated with the aristocracy, and we can see in this sketch that this is still very much the case. The man is clearly in charge of the horse, pointing confidently in the direction he wishes it to go. This is no accident. The drawing is carefully composed using line and shading. The lines are used to define the shapes of the figures and the landscape, while the shading is used to create depth and volume. By researching French military history and artistic patronage, we can develop a deeper understanding of its social and cultural meanings.