Horse with saddle

The horse is a subject that Ligabue has repeatedly transformed into sculpture, translating its typology and breed with meticulous and punctual attention. In this case the modeling is faster and more essential, as the sculptor is careful to define the relationship between the animal and its harness, which makes it ready to be ridden, for the direct relationship with the man who has it so subdued and prepared. Thus the meticulous and scrupulous attention to the details of the decoration from the saddle to the bridle and the bit, to the chest trimmings. The stirrups and blinders are missing. This last absence determines the animal's hallucinated and restless, not to say terrified, gaze. Ligabue, just as he was skilled in grasping the phenomenal aspects of the subjects he represented, was no less skilled in translating the psychological situation of the animals, as demonstrated by the many canvases with runaway and frightened horses, for example, due to thunderstorms and lightning. The animal represented here is static, firm and motionless, except for the slight movement of the left front paw which however does not affect the stability of its pose, a sign more of nervousness than of a real will to move, such as the straight tail, particular that the artist especially liked.