Broodmares and Colts in a Landscape
- Artist: Sawrey Gilpin
- Artist: George Barret Senior
- Date: ?exhibited 1783
- Medium: Oil paint on canvas
- Dimensions: support: 629 x 749 mm
- Museum: Tate Britain
- Collection record: Tate Britain website
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About this artwork
This is the Broodmares and Colts in a Landscape, a collaboration between the horse specialist Sawrey Gilpin and landscape painter George Barret Senior. Painted in oil on canvas, the work captures a tranquil scene of broodmares and colts set against a gently rolling woodland backdrop. Gilpin, renowned for his lively and accurate depictions of equine anatomy, was confident in painting horses but was less assured when it came to surrounding landscapes. To combine his strengths, he often invited other artists to add backgrounds, and Barret was a natural partner for this. Barret’s hand can be seen in the soft greens and muted earth tones that frame the herd, creating a harmonious balance between the animals and their environment. The painting was exhibited at the Society of Artists in 1783, hinting at its contemporary appeal. In 1979, it entered the collection through the generosity of Paul Mellon via the British Sporting Art Trust. Together, Gilpin’s energetic horses and Barret’s serene scenery make this piece a classic example of collaborative sporting art from the late eighteenth century.
See it in person
Broodmares and Colts in a Landscape is in the collection of Tate Britain on Millbank, 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.
