A Rearing Horse, Viewed from the Rear, Before a Seascape 1590

Curator: Oh, look at this, a rearing horse viewed from the rear! It’s a work by Antonio Tempesta, from the late 16th or early 17th century. Editor: It’s so…emphatic! That backside practically bursts from the frame, all bravado and coiled energy. Curator: Tempesta, born in Florence, really knew how to capture dynamism. Think of the political climate then, the Medici power struggles...it's fascinating to consider if that turmoil influenced the muscular tension of this equine figure. Editor: Absolutely. The landscape seems almost secondary, though that city in the distance hints at human ambition dwarfed by nature's force. The horse rears back, almost resisting that "civilization," a symbol of unleashed freedom. Curator: Maybe. Or maybe it’s just a very dramatic horse being very dramatic. I like the feeling it evokes. Editor: True, its expressive power is undeniable. A bold statement either way.