Horse and Rider with a Little Dog

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec painted the equestrian scene in 1879, when he was just fifteen years old. A horse and rider move through the composition while a small dog accompanies them. The work reflects his early passion for horses, animals he could no longer ride after breaking both legs in childhood accidents.

His first painting teacher was Rene Princeteau, a deaf sporting artist who adored horses. Princeteau used equestrian subjects to teach young Henri how to capture movement in his drawings. The artist's father was a fanatical horseman and racegoer who had hoped his son would follow the same path.

After discovering he had a degenerative bone disease at fourteen, Toulouse-Lautrec channeled his love of horses into painting. This early work shows his natural talent for conveying animal vitality. It's held at the Musee Toulouse-Lautrec in Albi, France.