Lucy KEMP-WELCH<br /> <em>Horses bathing in the sea</em> 1900 <!-- (frame recto) --><br />   oil on canvas<br /> 152.9 x 306.5 cm<br />   National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, 1900<br /> 93-2<br />   © Estate of Lucy Kemp-Welch <!--4100-->

The Horse

Free entry

NGV International

Ground Level

14 Aug 15 – 8 Nov 15

The Horse is a playful and enlightening exhibition celebrating the role this majestic animal has played in the development of human civilisation throughout the millennia. Drawn from the holdings of each department within the National Gallery of Victoria’s Collection, the exhibition presents a wunderkammer of the horse, tracing depictions and celebrations of this magnificent animal through works spanning a 3000 year period. From noble steed to the work-horse, the exhibition begins with ancient depictions in Greek mythology, segueing to China during the Han and Tang dynasties, then turning to India during the Mughal Empire (1526–1827). The Horse also explores the animal’s more recent manifestations ranging from horse racing to the glamour of equestrian imagery in today’s fashion world. Panoramic in its breadth and encyclopedic in its scope, the exhibition ranges from ancient Greek vases, photographs and major oils on canvas, to saddles, sculptures, riding garments and a Melbourne Cup.

Exhibition labels

Download onto your device and adjust to suit your viewing needs.

Select Works

Lucy KEMP-WELCH
Horses bathing in the sea 1900
oil on canvas
152.9 x 306.5 cm
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1900
93-2
© Estate of Lucy Kemp-Welch
Odilon REDON
Pegasus (c. 1900-1905)
(Pégase)
pastel, distemper, charcoal and incising on paper on cardboard
47.4 x 37.2 cm (sheet)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1951
2361-4
Henri de TOULOUSE-LAUTREC
The jockey 1899
(Le Jockey)
colour lithograph
51.5 x 36.3 cm (image and sheet)
ed. of 112
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1974
P1-1974
MASTER OF THE POLYCRATIQUE (illuminator)
MASTER OF THE CITÉ DES DAMES (illuminator)
Gillequin GRESSIER (scribe)
The History of Rome (c. 1399) (detail)
(Histoire Romaine)
black and red inks, tempera and gold leaf on parchment; modern binding
44.0 x 32.5 cm (folio)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1937
411-4
Dorothea LANGE
Spring ploughing in cauliflower fields, Guadalupe, California (1937); (c. 1975) {printed}
gelatin silver photograph
39.5 x 39.1 cm (image) 40.8 x 50.5 cm (sheet)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1975
PH110-1975
George STUBBS
A lion attacking a horse (c. 1765) (detail)
oil on canvas
69.0 x 100.1 cm
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1949
2052-4
Margit POGÁNY
The horsemen of the apocalypse 1942
oil on canvas
58.7 x 80.0 cm
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Mrs Jolanthe Gellert, 1970
EA1-1970
© the artist's estate
Jenny WATSON
Horse series No.8, grey with pink rug 1974
synthetic polymer paint on canvas
177.6 x 244.0 cm
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1991
A28-1991
© Courtesy of the artist
Hugh RAMSAY
An equestrian portrait (1903)
oil on canvas
207.0 x 238.2 cm
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Dr B. Milne Sutherland, 1943
1201-4
GREECE, Chalkis / ITALY
THE INSCRIPTIONS PAINTER (attributed to)
Psykter amphora (Chalkidian black-figure ware) 540 BCE
earthenware
(a-b) 60.2 x 37.1 x 34.9 cm (overall)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1956
1643.a-b-D4
INDIAN
Maharana Ari Singh II hunting buffalo 1765
opaque watercolour and gold paint on paper
22.8 x 31.3 cm (image) 26.2 x 34.8 cm (sheet)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1980
AS191-1980
Edward FISCHER
The Geelong Gold Cup 1879
15 ct gold
(a-b) 35.2 x 17.0 x 10.4 cm (overall)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
The O'Loughlin Gift: a memorial to Martin Loughlin (1833-94), miner, sportsman and philanthropist. Gift of three of his great-nieces, 1994
D41.a-b-1994
TAMIL
Album of Hindu deities (1833-1839)
album: opaque watercolour and metallic paint on paper, 108 paintings, leather and cardboard cover, glued and stitched binding
24.2 x 19.8 cm (page) 3.0 x 24.3 x 20.1 cm (closed) 1.8 x 24.3 x 41.0 cm (open)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased with funds donated by Westpac Banking Corporation, 2009
2009.581
Utagawa TOYOKUNI I
Kasuya Sukeemon (c. 1800)
(粕谷 助右衛門)
from the Seven famous spearman of the Battle of Shizugatake (Shizugatake Shichi-hon-yari Komyo-no-zu 賤ヶ嶽七本槍高名之図) series (c. 1800)
colour woodblock
38.0 x 24.4 cm (image) 28.3 x 24.6 cm (sheet)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1945
1437-4
Septimus POWER
Cavalry charge at Cambrai (c. 1919)
oil on canvas
46.0 x 66.0 cm
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gilbee Bequest, 1921
1188-3
(IRAN)
Textile (1000-1050)
silk
43.8 x 78.0 cm
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1971
D204-1971
Benjamin Robert HAYDON
Marcus Curtius (c. 1842-1843)
oil on canvas on composition board
76.5 x 63.5 cm
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1897
40-2
Albrecht DÜRER
Saint George killing the Dragon (c. 1503-1504)
(Modest Woodcut)
woodcut
21.2 x 14.2 cm (image and sheet, trimmed within blockmark)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1956
3577-4
Pieter de JODE II (engraver)
Anthony van DYCK (after)
Philip IV, King of Spain 1660
engraving
43.8 x 32.4 cm (plate) 45.8 x 33.8 cm (sheet)
only state
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Everard Studley Miller Bequest, 1959
X355-5
CARAN D'ACHE
A mounted cavalryman (1880s)
watercolour and gouache
23.2 x 17.1 cm (sheet)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1956
3369-4

Learn

See all Learn