About this artwork
Although the artist who created this work is not known, the story it depicts was widely popular in the mid-19th century. The painting portrays William Rysdyk, a farm laborer in Chester, New York, standing next to his prized horse. Named Hambletonian, the colt became a celebrated racer and produced generations of winning horses, bringing wealth and fame to its owner. Portraits of Rysdyk and Hambletonian proliferated, some in oil and others as print reproductions. This composition is similar to several lithographs published in the 1860s and broadly circulated in 1876, the year of Hambletonian’s death. The artist may have seen one of these prints and followed it closely to create this painting.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Arts of the Americas
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Artist
- Artist unknown
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Title
- Rysdyk's Hambletonian
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Place
- United States (Artist's nationality:)
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Date
- 1876–1950
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Medium
- Oil on canvas
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Inscriptions
- Inscribed recto, bottom-left, on banner, in red paint: "HAMBLETONIAN".
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Dimensions
- 63.5 × 76.2 cm (25 × 30 in.)
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Credit Line
- Gift of Mrs. Rudyard Boulton
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Reference Number
- 1950.1358
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.
