Cantering horses
La Madeleine, Dordogne, France.
Bone
Length: 10.8 cms
The British Museum
Palart.421
This sketch of two horses shows them cantering with their heads up, ears pricked and tails stretched out behind them. The smaller size of the horse in front suggests it is slightly to the side of the animal behind, adding a sense of depth to the composition. Their heads are too large but this error of proportioning is barely noticeable as what meets the eye is the sense of movement and vivacity. The drawing appears to have been engraved quickly with deep, confident lines.
Ice Age artists were skilled at depicting movement and often do so more accurately than those of historic times who did not watch animals for long periods of time or butcher them.
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