Wouterus Verschuur - A horse on the rack

Wouterus Verschuur (1812-1874) – A horse on the rack
A horse painting by the Dutch painter Wouterus Verschuur (1812-1874).
Signed and dated 'W. Verschuur – f 1834' (bottom right). Oil paint on panel.
Dimensions incl. frame: 45 x 49 cm Panel dimensions: 20 x 24 cm
Wouterus Verschuur Amsterdam 1812 – 1874 Vorden From the beginning of his career, Wouterus (or Wouter) Verschuur focused on animal representations with a strong preference for horses. He worked a lot in Gelderland and Brabant, but he also painted in Switzerland, the south of France and Germany. During his lifetime he was not only known in his own country, but also sold his work to many foreign collectors. For example, Emperor Napoleon III of France acquired a painting by him in 1855 at an important exhibition in Paris. Verschuur won several gold medals at other exhibitions. In addition, King William III appointed him Officer in the Order of the Oak Crown in 1862 in appreciation of his work. Today, Verschuur is considered the most important Dutch horse painter of the 19th century. That is why his works are also in great demand internationally. His paintings are executed with a sense of composition and the effect of light. He depicted the anatomy of the animals with special skill and accuracy. He painted work horses, harness horses, draft horses and elegant thoroughbreds. He depicted these against the background of a landscape or the familiar environment of a horse stable. Wouterus Verschuur was a typical Romantic painter. He emphasized the beauty of the horse. Impressionists such as George Hendrik Breitner and Anton Mauve often painted skinny draft and drag horses. In contrast, Verschuur's noble four-legged friends generally appear well-fed and well-proportioned. Horses have been depicted in paintings for centuries, partly because they have fulfilled such an important social function. In the past, people were very dependent on horses and used the animal for all kinds of purposes. Horses were not only used for the transport of goods and people, but also used on the land, on the battlefield and during hunting. In the Netherlands they were also used to tow small ships.