The Mounted Acrobats

1825 or after

American 19th Century

Associated Names
This painting depicts two people balancing on a running horse. The horse is mid-gallop, heading to the left, with a red cloth on its back and a silver halter on its face. It is a rich brown color, with a short mane. Standing on its back is a person with short, curly blond hair and pale skin, wearing a pale-yellow tunic or dress with puffy sleeves, silver embellishments, and white tights. They are standing with one arm extended to the side and the other raised, and one of their legs is slightly bent. On their shoulder stands a much smaller person with the same skin, hair, and pale-yellow costume. This person has one leg extended outward, and they are holding a blue fabric in both hands which twists through the air. The background shows an indoor setting, with teal fabric hung below red drapes, and on the left is the front of a building with peach walls. The floor is gray, and slopes slightly downward on the left and right.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Artwork overview


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Recorded as from Plymouth, Massachusetts. (Robert B. Campbell, city unknown), by whom sold in 1952 to Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch; gift to NGA, 1953.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1988

  • A Little Bestiary: Naive Paintings from the Collection of Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, Montclair Art Museum, New Jersey, 1988, no catalogue.

Bibliography

1980

  • American Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1980: 284, repro.

1992

  • Chotner, Deborah, with contributions by Julie Aronson, Sarah D. Cash, and Laurie Weitzenkorn. American Naive Paintings. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. Washington, D.C., 1992: 553-555, color repro. 553.

  • American Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1992: 414, repro.

Wikidata ID

Q20185199

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