Where is Polo at Lakewood displayed?

It hangs at the Columbus Museum of Art in Ohio. Bellows was born in Columbus and the museum holds an important collection of his work.

How big is this painting?

Polo at Lakewood measures 45 1/4 x 63 1/2 inches (about 115 x 161 cm). It's one of Bellows' largest and most dynamic sporting scenes.

What was the Ashcan School?

Bellows was the leading young member of the Ashcan School, artists who depicted the realities of daily urban life. This polo scene was unusual for him, showing upper-class leisure.

Where Is Polo at Lakewood? Museum Location

American artist George Bellows painted this energetic scene in 1910 after attending a polo match at the estate of railroad tycoon Jay Gould in Lakewood, New Jersey. The painting measures nearly four feet high and over six feet wide, capturing a scrum of horses, indistinguishable and rearing, as they fill the canvas with violent speed. Grey, looming clouds and female spectators frame the main action.

The polo subject marked a departure for Bellows, who was the boldest member of the Ashcan School, known for depicting working-class urban life. His patron Joseph B. Thomas, who had purchased three paintings in 1908, introduced him to this upper-class world. Bellows painted only three polo scenes in his career. The vigorous brushwork and vibrant color palette demonstrate his skill at capturing the physical action of sporting events.

The painting hangs at the Columbus Museum of Art in Ohio, which considers Bellows "the most acclaimed American artist of his generation." For collectors of horse art, this work exemplifies dynamic equestrian painting at its finest.