Mammals · 19th century
€ 1 020
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good. Please study image carefully.
The lithograph depicting the Suffolk Horse, featured in the distinguished Dutch edition of "Paardenrassen Kunstalbum," is a testament to the grandiosity and workmanship of this powerful draft breed. Part of a larger series, the album consists of 41 lithographed plates, each meticulously based on Otto Eerelman's original paintings that celebrate the unique beauty and characteristics of different horse breeds.
This particular print is executed on heavy textured paper, chosen to emulate the rich texture and depth of an oil painting, enhancing the image's aesthetic appeal. The sheet and the image size, both being 59 x 44.5 cm, are intentionally large, meant to command attention and respect, befitting the presence of the noble Suffolk Horse itself.
Published by Schillemans & Van Belkum in Zutphen, the Netherlands, the "Paardenrassen Kunstalbum" was released around 1898, possibly in a serialized format, with this Dutch edition being especially prized for its exceptional quality and scale compared to other contemporaneous editions in different languages or later facsimiles. These prints were not merely artworks but were also objects of luxury, designed for the collections and display areas of the well-heeled and knowledgeable.
The lithographs were brought into being by J.L. Goffart, a celebrated lithographer from Belgium, whose expertise allowed for a faithful and vivid representation of Eerelman's paintings. Eerelman himself had evolved from a painter of historical themes to one predominantly focused on animal portraits, with his works reflecting a dynamic realism and a particular affinity for equine subjects.
Complementing Eerelman's visuals, the portfolio included descriptive texts by E.A.L. Quadekker, a military veterinarian and author well-versed in equine topics, providing an informed commentary alongside the visual splendor of the plates.
The Suffolk Horse lithograph, much like the other prints in the collection, is esteemed as one of the finest equine artworks available, crafted with the intention of showcasing the magnificence of horse breeds to an audience that appreciated both the aesthetic and functional attributes of these animals. Due to its substantial size, the print is shipped flat to ensure its condition is preserved, with the acknowledgement that additional shipping charges may be applicable depending on the destination.
