Le comte d'Etchegoyen

Painted in 1920, this portrait shows the Count d'Etchegoyen seated calmly on a striking white horse. He wears a military uniform and a small forage cap, holding the reins with an easy confidence. The setting is loose and atmospheric, with a pale sky and a sketchy landscape that keeps all the attention on the rider and his mount. There is a relaxed, unhurried feeling here, as if the man has simply paused for a moment during a ride.

Alfred Munnings was one of Britain's most celebrated painters of horses, and his skill really shows in the animal's gleaming coat and gentle stance. He worked quickly and loved capturing horses in natural light, often outdoors, which gives his paintings a fresh, almost breezy quality. Munnings had served as a war artist during the First World War, so portraits of military men on horseback were familiar territory for him. While this piece is more of a quiet study than a grand statement, it offers a nice glimpse into his talent for blending portraiture with his lifelong love of horses.