Equestrian Statue
In sculpture, "equestrian statue" is meant to describe a statue of a rider mounted on their horse. The term is derived from the Latin root "equus", meaning horse, from where we get "eques", meaning "night". If the horse is portrayed without a rider, the sculpture is then known as an "equine statue". As popes, politicians, and even sometimes kings rarely ever even think about using horses, equestrian statues are traditionally meant to portray military commanders and leaders.
Quite often, you can find that horses are virtually impossible to render in any stone or bronze. Even the greatest sculptors struggle and experience technical difficulties when trying to maneuver with the art form. The issue arises with the lack of balance and weight support. It should be notes, however, that some types of art as majestic as the equestrian statue of "Richard the Lionheart" by Baron Marochetti. It stands outside of the British parliament building in London. Not to mention, there is the stunning "The Bronze Horseman" in St. Petersburg by Etienne Falconet. One of the finest equestrian statues are "The Marly Horse" in Louvre, Paris by Guillaume Coustou.
Richard the Lionheart (1856)
By: Baron Marochetti
The Bronze Horseman (1778)
By: Etienne Falconet
The Marly Horse (1739-45)
By: Guillaume Coustou
In the history of sculpture, countless equestrian statues have been viewed, and only a few survive from antiquity. One of the oldest examples is derived from Greek sculpture, the "Rampin Rider" from 550 BCE. As it was unearthed from the Athenian acropolis, it featured a kouros mounted on the horseback. This is meant to exemplify Greek Sculpture of the Archaic Period (600-480 BCE). Roman sculpture, being known to showcase the power of Rome, contained a variety of equestrian statues of Roman emperors. Unfortunately, many of the statues had been melted down for the use of church bells or coins. One famous yet surviving example is the "Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius" (175 CE). In traditional Chinese art, statues of rulers are quite rare. Although they have a huge hoard of statues known as the Terracotta Army, there are not statues of mounted riders.
Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius (175 CE)
Roman Sculpture
Rampin Rider (550 BCE)
Greek Sculpture
Equestrian works have remained scarce in the 20th century, but the quality continuously stays high. Seeing this seemingly simple works, it may be viewed as a form of respect to those warriors or horse riders. Those who appeared on these artworks were not just anybody. These figures were put on a high pedestal for the good they had done for their state or region. We must keep in mind that art is not only there for the aesthetic view, but also for the story or representation that the creator is proud of.
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