The Start of the Race of the Riderless Horses 1820

Curator: Horace Vernet's "The Start of the Race of the Riderless Horses," painted around 1820 using oil on canvas. A chaotic burst of energy jumps right off the canvas. What are your first impressions? Editor: Untamed! The scene is alive with wildness and anticipation. You can almost hear the thundering hooves. The swirling, blurred figures add to the sense of pure, unbridled energy. I love it. Curator: It certainly captures a raw moment. Vernet painted several versions of this very scene, a traditional Roman horse race that was part of the Carnival celebrations. Editor: A horse race with no riders? Bit bonkers, isn't it? Though, looking at it, the sheer madness kind of elevates it beyond just another sporting scene. Curator: It's not really "sport" in the modern sense. The "riderless" part is actually key. These races have ancient origins, tied to rituals of purification. Think about the public performance aspect, where displays of power, both human and animal, reinforced social structures. Editor: So, not just horses running wild then! The handlers in the painting, desperately trying to control these beasts, seem just as central to the whole drama. Vernet really gets across the feeling of barely contained chaos; those horses could bolt anywhere. Curator: Absolutely. And consider the historical context: Romanticism was flourishing, favoring emotion and the sublime. The painting's looser brushwork compared to earlier Neoclassical styles reflects that shift. Also, such paintings were powerful declarations, and a comment of the turbulent political mood after the Napoleonic era. Editor: Makes me think how easily energy—and particularly public spectacle—can tip into something ungovernable. The composition is really effective, capturing that precise moment before things explode. The contrast of that near white horse rearing is masterful. I find a certain fascination in chaos and this canvas certainly embraces it. Curator: Indeed. Vernet captures a unique cultural moment with his romantic sensibilities. The work offers us insight to not only ancient customs but how a community collectively processed spectacle. Editor: I am left pondering the raw, potent blend of chaos and exhilaration Vernet conveys in his remarkable snapshot.