Artwork
A Persian on Horseback
A Persian on Horseback is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Aleksandr Osipovich Orlovskii. It dates from 1820 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
A Persian on Horseback is a lithograph created by Aleksandr Osipovich Orlovskii in 1820, depicting a Persian rider and his entourage in a landscape setting.
Subject & Meaning
The print shows a bearded man in a fur-lined coat and distinctive hat riding a horse across rocky terrain, accompanied by a second horse led by a turbaned figure. A distant castle on a hill overlooks the scene, with trees and a river in the background.
Technique & Style
Orlovskii employed lithography, a novel printmaking technique at the time, characterized by a scratchy, sketchy aesthetic reminiscent of a rapid drawing.
History & Provenance
Created in 1820, the work is an early example of lithography, a medium that was then a new development in printmaking technology.
Context
The piece reflects the early 19th-century interest in Orientalist themes, while its style highlights the expressive possibilities of lithography as an emerging art form.
Legacy
As one of Orlovskii's works from this period, it contributes to the broader adoption and artistic exploration of lithography in the 19th century.
Artist & collection
