Steigerend paard van achteren gezien voor een zeegezicht 1590

Antonio Tempesta created this etching of a rearing horse, seen from behind against a seascape, around the turn of the 17th century. Born in Florence, Tempesta trained as a painter, but his fame rests on his prolific output of etchings. Here, the rearing horse occupies the centre of the composition, its powerful form dominating the landscape. Note the architectural forms of the distant city, a not-so-subtle reminder of man's dominion over nature. The print’s Latin inscription suggests it was commissioned to commemorate a warhorse, possibly belonging to a noble family, in whose service Tempesta was often employed. The image plays into contemporary equestrian culture, an aristocratic spectacle associated with horsemanship, pageantry, and military might. Historical research into patronage and equestrian culture of the period can help us to better understand the artwork's meaning, revealing the social and institutional contexts that shaped its creation and reception.