After Eerelman, Thoroughbred Horse Portrait, Pur Sang, Lithograph, 1898

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Antique Thoroughbred Horse Portrait 1898, Pur Sang Equestrian Lithograph This original antique colour lithograph from 1898 depicts Le Cheval de … Read more Antique Thoroughbred Horse Portrait 1898, Pur Sang Equestrian Lithograph This original antique colour lithograph from 1898 depicts Le Cheval de Pur-Sang, the Thoroughbred, the most influential racing and sport horse breed of the modern era. Shown in a classical side-on portrait in an open landscape, the horse is presented with emphasis on athletic proportions, refinement, and balance, characteristics that defined the Thoroughbred as the foundation of modern racing and sport horse breeding. This sheet is plate No. 1 from the prestigious Belgian equestrian series L’Espèce Chevaline à Travers le Monde. The series was issued as a deluxe loose-leaf publication rather than as a bound book and consisted of 40 colour plates in total. Only 150 complete sets were produced, intended for breeders, collectors, and official equestrian institutions, making individual plates notably scarce today. The lithograph was executed after a painting by Otto Eerelman, one of the leading European horse painters of the late nineteenth century. Eerelman was admired for his anatomical precision and restrained, dignified portrayal of horses, focusing on breed identity and conformation rather than narrative scenes. His work occupies an important position in European equestrian art and breed documentation around 1900. On the reverse of the sheet is an original printed note reading: “Espèce Chevaline. Ouvrage contenant 40 planches en couleurs. Édition de la Librairie Néerlandaise à Anvers.” This verso text provides contemporary confirmation of the series title, the complete set of plates, and the Antwerp publisher. Issued as a finished loose sheet and intended for framing from the outset, this lithograph appeals both to collectors of equestrian and sporting art and to interior designers seeking refined, timeless horse imagery. The open landscape, warm colouring, and elegant stance give the work a lighter, decorative presence suitable for country houses, libraries, studies, or sophisticated modern interiors. This is an original nineteenth-century lithograph, not a reproduction or later print. Condition report: Good condition. Light, even age-related toning and scattered foxing consistent with age. Colours remain warm and well preserved. No folds or hard creases observed. Minor edge wear only. Framing suggestions: Beautifully suited to a dark walnut or natural wood frame with a generous off-white or soft ivory mat. A wide mat enhances the airy landscape and gives the work a calm, museum-quality presentation. Technique: Colour lithograph Maker: After Otto Eerelman, Netherlands / Belgium, circa 1898 See less