A Horse frightened by Lightning
- Artist: Jean-Louis-André-Théodore Géricault
- Date: about 1813-14
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the "A Horse frightened by Lightning" painted in the Italian north. You can see a fine thoroughbred, possibly of Arabian stock, reacting to a bolt of lightning in the upper right corner. Géricault has shown the moment it freezes in fear, avoiding the more dramatic image of a horse rearing instead. The painting is characterised by close observation and detailed naturalism, with short, staccato strokes of liquid paint that precisely follow the contours of the horse’s body.
The artist, Jean-Louis-André-Théodore Géricault, was known for his passion for horses and expert understanding of their anatomy. This picture shows a specific horse, with its own distinct characteristics, rather than a generic study of a type or breed. The side view recalls classical friezes, which had an impact on Géricault’s paintings of horses and horse racing.
The artist's use of short, staccato strokes creates an effect of nervous energy that ripples across the horse’s silky surface. He has captured the sheen of its dappled coat as it is momentarily lit up against the near blackness of the night sky. The attention is entirely focused on the horse, excluding any human presence or incidental detail.
See it in person
A Horse frightened by Lightning hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
