The Arabian in Gold

About this work

Nothing here is painted in solid colour; every form is built from line. Fine parallel and crossing strokes of pale gold, the hatching of an old engraving, thicken where the head turns into shadow and thin out where the light falls, so the modelling of the jaw, cheek and neck comes entirely from how closely the lines are laid. The eye moves first to the face, with its gently dished profile and alert ears pointing up, then follows the arch of the neck down to the mane, which pours away to the right in long flowing strands. Around it the deep navy is left empty, and that space is part of the design, giving the head an air of calm and poise. Close up the lines read like a finely worked print; from across the room they fuse into a soft golden sheen.

The dished face is the feature most people look for in an Arabian. Seen in profile, the line between the eyes and the muzzle curves gently inwards, a concave outline that sets the breed apart from most others. Arabians are also known for large eyes, small muzzles, a finely arched neck and a tail carried high when they move. The breed is one of the oldest recognised today, developed over many centuries by the Bedouin of the Arabian Peninsula, who prized stamina and a close bond with their horses. Its influence spread widely. The Thoroughbred, for one, traces back to three eastern stallions brought to England between the late 17th and early 18th centuries, among them the Darley Arabian.

Beside The Golden Mane it offers a lighter, linear counterpart to a painted head, and with Phases of the Golden Moon it shares the same navy and gold, perfect for a calm bedroom wall. Navy, ink blue, deep teal or soft grey walls make the most of the pale gold lines; on a white wall the navy ground stands out as a strong rectangle. A thin gold frame and a wide ivory mat give it the feel of an antique print in a collector's cabinet. Gentle side light brings out the engraving. Printed from the 7168 × 10752 px file, it stays sharp to about 60 × 90 cm, so even the finest hatching stays crisp. A Frame TV version with a gallery mat is included in the download.