About this sheet
Antique Lipizzaner Horse Portrait 1898, Classical European Equestrian Lithograph
This original antique colour lithograph from 1898 depicts No. 21. Le Cheval de Lippiza, the Lipizzaner (Lipizzan) horse, one of Europe’s most celebrated classical riding breeds. Instantly recognizable by its noble carriage and refined conformation, the Lipizzaner was closely associated with court riding schools and aristocratic equestrian culture in the late nineteenth century. The horse is shown in a formal stable interior, presented side-on to emphasize balance, musculature, and elegant bearing.
Note: The work is offered unframed, enabling custom framing to personal or interior preferences.
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 foremost European horse painters of the late nineteenth century. Eerelman was renowned for his anatomical precision and dignified, unsentimental portrayal of horses, focusing on ideal conformation and breed character rather than narrative scenes. His work provides 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 offers period 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 both to collectors of equestrian and sporting art and to interior designers seeking refined, timeless horse imagery. The ceremonial tack, stable setting, and restrained palette give the work a formal, classical presence well suited to libraries, studies, country houses, 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 strong and well preserved. No folds or hard creases observed. Minor edge wear only, incl a tiny corner cut.
Framing suggestions: Best presented in a dark walnut or ebonized wood frame with a generous off-white or soft ivory mat. A wide mat enhances the formal composition and gives the work a calm, museum-quality presence.
Technique: Colour lithograph
Maker: After Otto Eerelman, Netherlands / Belgium, circa 1898
