Sports & Leisure · 19th century
€ 730
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good condition. Light, even age-related toning and scattered foxing consistent with age. Colours remain warm and well preserved. No folds or hard creases observed. Minor edge wear only.
Antique East Prussian Horse Portrait 1898, Trakehner Equestrian Wall Art
This original antique colour lithograph from 1898 depicts No. 9. Le Cheval de la Prusse Orientale, the East Prussian horse, internationally known as the Trakehner. Celebrated for its refinement, endurance, and athletic build, the East Prussian horse was one of the most important warmblood breeds of late nineteenth-century Europe, widely valued for cavalry use, breeding, and emerging sport disciplines. The horse is shown in a calm, formal side-on portrait against an architectural stable wall, emphasizing balance, strength, and noble bearing.
This sheet forms part of the distinguished Belgian equestrian series L’Espèce Chevaline à Travers le Monde. The series was issued as a deluxe loose-leaf publication rather than a bound book and consisted of 40 colour plates in total. Only 150 complete sets were produced, intended for breeders, collectors, and official equestrian institutions, making individual plates scarce and increasingly sought after.
The lithograph was executed after a painting by Otto Eerelman, one of the leading European horse painters of the late nineteenth century. He was admired for his anatomical precision and restrained, dignified portrayals of horses, focusing on ideal conformation and breed character rather than narrative scenes. His work represents an important visual record of Europe’s principal horse breeds at the height of classical breeding culture.
On the reverse of the sheet is an original printed note reading: “Espèce Chevaline. Ouvrage contenant 40 planches en couleurs. Édition de la Librairie Néerlandaise à Anvers.” This verso inscription provides contemporary confirmation of the series title, the complete set of plates, and the Antwerp publisher.
Issued as a finished loose sheet and intended for framing from the outset, this lithograph appeals equally to collectors of equestrian and sporting art and to interior designers seeking refined, timeless horse imagery. The sober architectural background and rich, subdued palette make it especially suitable for country houses, libraries, studies, or elegant modern interiors.
This is an original nineteenth-century lithograph, not a reproduction or later print.
Condition report:
Good condition. Light, even age-related toning and scattered foxing consistent with age. Colours remain warm and well preserved. No folds or hard creases observed. Minor edge wear only.
Framing suggestions:
Well suited to a dark walnut or ebonized wood frame with a generous off-white or soft ivory mat. A wide mat enhances the formal presentation and gives the work a calm, museum-quality presence.
Technique: Colour lithograph
Maker: After Otto Eerelman, Netherlands / Belgium, circa 1898
