Rearing Horse in Rear Three-Quarter View 1500 - 1600

This drawing of a horse rearing up on its hind legs was made anonymously, on blue paper, with white chalk. It is an image that invokes the social history of horsemanship. Horses and their riders have always been an indication of status. In aristocratic societies, like Renaissance Italy, to be seen in control of such a magnificent animal was a sign of wealth, power, and nobility. The rearing horse is associated with military power, representing the peak of its training. The social life of the court was often expressed through the imagery of war. It is a symbol of controlled, noble violence. However, given that the artist is anonymous, perhaps this study was made at an academy, as a technical exercise. In this context, the drawing is a celebration of the institution that trains artists, rather than a commentary on the use of horses in the aristocratic world. Without further information, it's hard to determine the artist's intentions, which is why social art historians rely on institutional records and historical context.