Polo at Lakewood

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.