El dia del Gaucho & Emeric Essex Vidal's gauchos, circa 1818AD

 Salvete Omnes,

a gaucho hunting, interesting war bridle on the horse - noleadoras in action

today in Argentina they celebrate the day of gaucho - El Dial del Gaucho.
Vivat gauchos and the gaucho tradition -

 and enjoy some watercolors painted by a British officer Emeric Essex Vidal(1791-1861) in Argentina's coast and Uruguay during 1816-1818.

The watercolors were published in a book form in London  in 1820. You can peruse them via Hathi Trust site or Archive world library. 

gaucho - wikipedia entry in English.

the gaucho and this holiday have their  epic literature, the most famous is the epic titled ''Martin Fierro'' by Jose Hernandez. 

Valete

A little more of XV century Epiphany

 Salvete Omnes,

since this is the Epiphany weekend, so   let us enjoy  it as it lasts, with snow and wind around and around, and more medieval imagery.

In this post-   the Northern Renaissance master Hans Pleydenwurff painted this  Three Kings altar   for the Saint Lawrence church in Nuremberg.

The altar's central panel is the most interesting per this blog's equestrian theme. We have a cornucopia of horse tack, saddles and riding equipment - very interesting for further study. 

enjoy

valete

Hugo van der Goes - Nativity with the Magi

 Salvete Omnes,

so today we celebrate the feast of  Epiphany - and with that we can take a look at the splendid world of the XV century Christina Europe, and ... yes, yes the horses too. 

Monforte Altarpiece - a Northern Renaissance masterpiece by Hugo van der Goes

Maestro Hugo was very skilled in his trade, and his horses are of the finest sort painted during that great XV century anywhere in Europe -the riders and pages sport the high  fashion of the day, while our attention is drawn to a splendid gray warhorse led by a page.

 

spurs - splendid examples of rowel spurs of this period

enjoy your gifts if any given or just enjoy your day and the coming weekend

Valete