The Trotter c. 1860

Charles S. Humphreys's "The Trotter" (c. 1860) is a captivating oil painting depicting a trotting horse and its driver in a dynamic pose. The horse, a magnificent chestnut with a flowing mane, is in full stride, its hooves barely touching the ground. The driver, a man in a top hat and formal attire, expertly guides the reins, his face conveying a sense of focus and determination. The setting is a pastoral landscape, with rolling hills and a distant village in the background. The painting captures the energy and grace of the trotting horse, a popular form of equestrianism in the 19th century, and embodies the romanticism and elegance of the era.