Horses 1624 - 1663

Francesco Allegrini’s drawing "Horses" is rendered in pen and brown ink. Allegrini was a part of the Roman Baroque movement, a period when the Catholic Church heavily influenced artistic expression. This sketch, small as it is, reflects the era's preoccupation with dynamic movement and emotional intensity. Horses, often symbols of power and status, are depicted here with a kind of raw energy; one rears up while the other lays down. The drawing uses a confident line, bringing life to the animals. Consider that the Baroque period was also a time of strict social hierarchies and that Allegrini worked under the patronage of wealthy families. Were these horses destined for war? Did the artist identify with the free spirit of the horse, or perhaps long for the noble status it represented? It is a reminder that even seemingly simple sketches hold layers of meaning, shaped by the world around them and the individual experiences of the artist.