Dr. Syntax, a Bay Racehorse, Standing in a Coastal Landscape, an Estuary Beyond 1820

James Ward’s painting “Dr. Syntax, a Bay Racehorse, Standing in a Coastal Landscape, an Estuary Beyond” is a portrayal of a magnificent thoroughbred in the English landscape. This 1820 painting depicts the horse in profile against a broad, open background with a distant estuary and a cloudy sky. Ward’s painting exemplifies the artist’s masterful use of light and shadow to capture the animal’s powerful anatomy, particularly its muscular legs and strong neck. This piece is typical of Ward’s style, characterized by his interest in portraying the beauty of nature and the animals within it.