Studies of a Horse 

Curator: This is John Flaxman's "Studies of a Horse," currently held in the Tate Collections. Editor: It feels very classical, almost like a memory of movement. The lines are so tentative. Curator: Indeed. The horse, throughout history, has embodied power, freedom, and nobility, often linked to gods and heroes. Flaxman's sketch captures that timeless spirit. Editor: It's interesting how spare the rendering is, it's a study for sure. You get the sense of something primal, untamed, yet also elegant. Curator: The simplicity allows us to project our own notions of what the horse represents to us, which is why it remains such a potent symbol. Editor: I agree. It's as if Flaxman wanted to capture not just the animal, but the very idea of the horse, its essence, really.