Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Paso de la Muerte etc - la charreria

 Salvete Omnes,



a short entry with plenty of different iconography -  the subject being the equestrian symbol of Mexico (United States of Mexico): la charreria.  


Spanish vaquero riding a la gineta pursuing will, cimarron, bulls


when Spanish horsemen, the conquistadors, brought  their Spanish or Iberian horses, equestrian  traditions and cattle with cattle ranching, the new world's equestrian traditions were born. 


During the centuries of News Spain (or colonial Mexico) these vaqueros or horsemen tending cattle and horses developed their tack &  saddles,  traits and characteristics, that  eventually brought the development of la charreria, el charro (horseman) and la charra (horsewoman) of today's Mexico.

Some iconography - from the XVIII century onwards






















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finally, el paso de la Muerte - or a particularly courageous show of skill, daring and horsemanship when a charro riding in el lienzo charro (arena) 



attempts of jump from his saddled horse onto a back of a unbroken horse and ride around the arena astride  this mount bareback until the new mount stops or he loses his seat and fells to the sand of el lienzo. Dangerous and yet spectacular feat. 


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the modern Charreria riders use native Mexican horse or the Azteca, or American Quarter Horse



el lazo or the lasso (arkan in Polish)





Valete

Saturday, November 16, 2024

Mythical figures on horseback - Jost Amman

 Salvete Omnes,

this image makes a very interesting idea for a watercolor or drawing


Long time ago I posted some woodcuts from  meister Jost Amman's workshop. They were depicting horse care and everyday grooms and horse handlers & drivers.
Today, different but very interesting woodcuts from Jost Amman - including depictions of Mars, Aurora & Apollo.




Marcus Curtius - legendary Roman hero


and two warriors in 'Persian' costume.


..



Valete

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

John A. Harrington Bird - Arabians & illustrations

 Salvete Omnes,

so the fever of our US elections (Nov 5.) slowly has bee going down. 
Now we would like to see the peace process in Europe and Middle East to start at full gallop, wouldn't we? . 



And this afternoon let me share this little corralled gallery of works by John Alexander Harrington Bird (1846-1935/6).


Harrington Bird was a British painter and illustrator, also known for this depictions of Orientalist-in-style Arabian horse scenes.
Harrington Bird studied at the Royal Academy in London, went to Montreal, British Canada, and worked  and exhibited  there until returning to London in 1885. He exhibited at the Royal Society of British Artists on Suffolk Street in London.  
His work was popularized through many prints published after his paintings. 

Arab stallion and mare - from Christies.


He painted the famous Skowronek, Polish Arabian stallion that was not a racehorse but a sire, - here the image of this painting from Invaluable auction site .



From Christies - Grey and bay Arabians with a groom - 



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some of his illustrations from Archive world library collections.







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Enjoy

Valete