After Otto Eerelman, Russian Draft Horse, 1898, Lithograph on Paper

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Antique Russian Draft Horse Portrait 1898, Eastern European Equesestrian Lithograph This original antique colour lithograph from 1898 depicts No. 19. … Read more Antique Russian Draft Horse Portrait 1898, Eastern European Equesestrian Lithograph This original antique colour lithograph from 1898 depicts No. 19. Le Cheval de trait Russe, the Russian draft horse, representing the powerful heavy horse types developed in the Russian Empire for agricultural and transport use. Bred for strength, endurance, and the ability to work in difficult climates and terrain, Russian draft horses were essential to rural economies and were admired in Western Europe for their robustness and reliability. The horse is shown in a calm side-on portrait set in an open riverside landscape, emphasizing mass, solidity, and quiet strength. Note: The work is offered unframed, enabling custom framing to personal or interior preferences. This sheet forms part of the distinguished Belgian equestrian series L’Espèce Chevaline à Travers le Monde. The series was issued as a deluxe loose-leaf publication rather than 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 increasingly sought after. The lithograph was executed after a painting by Otto Eerelman, one of the leading European horse painters of the late nineteenth century. He was admired for his anatomical accuracy and restrained, dignified portrayal of horses, focusing on breed characteristics and ideal conformation rather than narrative scenes. His work provides an important visual record of Europe’s principal and regional 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 strong, characterful horse imagery. The subdued palette, open landscape, and imposing stance make it particularly suitable for country houses, libraries, studies, or elegant 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: Best presented in a dark walnut or ebonized wood frame with a generous off-white or soft ivory mat. A wide mat enhances the sense of scale and gives the work a calm, museum-quality presence. Technique: Colour lithograph Maker: After Otto Eerelman, Netherlands / Belgium, circa 1898 See less