The War Horse Memorial in Chipilly, France is one of the many monuments that honors both the men who fought in wars and the horses who served beside them. The monument depicts an artilleryman cradling the head of his wounded horse. It is the work of French sculptor Henri Désiré Gauquié (1858-1927) whose native village of Flers was occupied by the Germans and liberated by the British army in October 1918.
This collage is an hommage to Charles “Snaffles” Johnson Payne (1884–1967), an English painter who specialized in equestrian scenes.
The riders in this photo are members of ONBH — taken from a photo at a hunt last fall. I gave them a new background.
In honor of hunting season, here's another collage based on a vintage hunting postcard.
These ladies first appeared in La Vie Parisienne in about 1920.
I used this vintage print from my grandfather in this collage. Much of the print background was damaged from the glue that had been used to attach it to a mat. Luckily the horse and the jockey emerged unscathed.
Today I found an image that my grandfather had given me many years ago. He was a commercial artist back in the day when ads were drawn, not photographed. He was also a painter and photographer, and a lover of racehorses. Although he did not draw this ad, he loved this style of art and kept a clipping file of work he admired.
When I was maybe five or six, I can remember going to Belmont Park to watch the races with him. I was only old enough to love the beauty of the horses; not enough to understand betting. But I still remember sitting in the stands, watching the horses as they pranced out to the starting gate.
Looking at this wonderful art deco image, I wonder if this print — which has been tucked away for several decades — is what sparked my interest in vintage equestrian prints. Although my grandfather died when I was only 12, in many ways he left an indelible impression my taste. Along with vintage equestrian prints, I also collect vintage Mexican jewelry (it did take me many years to appreciate the jewelry that he had left to me).
This collage combines a Victorian-era postcard with a more contemporary rural setting.
This collage is based on an antique print. I gave it a contemporary -- and dreamier -- background.
