abstract This study bridges science and art to explore how equine expressions represented in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century paintings may be interpreted in light of contemporary equine welfare science. Paintings of horses by Stubbs, Géricault, Delacroix, and Bonheur were analyzed through an adapted iconographic approach based on Panofsky’s method and integrated with current knowledge of equine behavior and welfare. The analysis revealed representations of horses displaying emotional expressions, particularly those associated with fear, pain, and discomfort. The findings suggest that these artists combined observation of equine anatomy, movement, and expressions with artistic interpretations of perceived emotions in horses, consistent with the emotional emphasis characteristic of the Romantic period. Overall, the study demonstrates that artistic works can serve as valuable historical records of horses’ physical and emotional states, enriching discussions between art, animal behavior, and animal welfare science.
Denise Pereira Leme (Mon,) studied this question.
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