Man and Horse Compared

Seeing sculpture compared to painting Contrasted imagery alluding to victory With victor being both man and animal Subservience dominates both images Bare head and feet noticeable to viewer A horse head raised; the other lowered Who are these men and beasts? Smug facial expression common to both Though can a horse hold airs superior To rider upon his back, dominated? Both larger than life, one four legged One dressed aristocratically, they stand Victorious in unknown battle, while other Remains forever weary, worn, and tired We shall never know their stories Their images captured for posterity Eternally the dominant and dominated Two men and two horses compared Two lives and circumstances contrasted Beasts and their mounts and masters Of human flesh; of horse flesh together Beautiful this artwork upon mine soul. © 2014 CM Davidson [On the comparison of Donatello’s Equestrian Monument of Erasmo Da Narni (1443-1453) and Anthony van Dyck’s Charles I at the Hunt (1635)]