Petersham Races c. 1845

Acknowledgements: © State Library of New South Wales; Equinity in the Picture Gallery; Free Exhibition from 8 October 2007 to 13 January 2008.

Featured Image: A Race Meeting at Petersham c. 1845 W Scott

Sporting artists also developed a style of treatment for a group of horse galloping called the ‘rocking horse’ or ‘hobbyhorse’ gait, with front and back legs fully extended. W Scott’s depiction of A race meeting at Petersham is a good example of this treatment. This work also shows the common practice of flattening and elongating the horse to suggest speed, while stretching the head and neck to emphasise effort.