After Eerelman, East Prussian Trakehner Horse Portrait, 1898, Lithograph

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Antique East Prussian Horse Portrait 1898, Trakehner Equestrian Lithograph This original antique colour lithograph from 1898 depicts Le Cheval de … Read more Antique East Prussian Horse Portrait 1898, Trakehner Equestrian Lithograph This original antique colour lithograph from 1898 depicts Le Cheval de la Prusse Orientale, the East Prussian horse, internationally known as the Trakehner. Celebrated for its refinement, endurance, and athletic qualities, the East Prussian horse was one of Europe’s most influential warmblood breeds and played a key role in cavalry use and modern sport horse breeding. The horse is shown in a classical side-on portrait set within an open rural landscape, emphasizing elegance, balance, and noble bearing. This sheet is plate No. 9 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 scarce and desirable today. The lithograph was executed after a painting by Otto Eerelman, one of the leading European horse painters of the late nineteenth century. He was renowned for his anatomical precision and dignified, unsentimental portrayals of horses, focusing on ideal conformation and breed identity rather than narrative scenes. His work forms an important visual record of Europe’s principal horse breeds at the height of classical breeding culture. 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 inscription 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 and calm composition make it particularly 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: Ideal for a dark walnut or natural wood frame with a generous off-white or soft ivory mat. A wide mat enhances the landscape setting and gives the work a calm, museum-quality presence. Technique Colour lithograph Maker After Otto Eerelman, Netherlands / Belgium, circa 1898 See less