Horse following Tang models; China, 19th century.

Horse following Tang models; China, XIX century.
Bronze.
Presents faults.
Measurements: 64 x 62 x 20 cm.
Bronze horse sculpture made in China in the 19th century, following the formal and typological models of the Tang dynasty (618-907). The piece is part of the Chinese historicist tradition, in which the recovery of ancient styles does not respond to a mere archaeological imitation, but to an exercise of cultural continuity.
The figure represents a horse of robust bearing and serene attitude, with the four legs firmly seated, the neck arched and the head slightly turned, features that clearly evoke the famous Tang horses associated with prosperity, imperial power and cultural exchange along the Silk Road. The volumetric modeling is compact and balanced, with a simplified but effective treatment of the masses that prioritizes structural solidity and a sense of stability.
The work reflects the fundamental principles of Tang art: serene monumentality, idealized naturalism and a clear interest in the physical presence of the animal rather than in the detailed description of textures. These features are reinterpreted in the 19th century through a different sensibility.