Famous Art for the Pandemic

Update 03 July 2025: This post was initially published during the 2020/2021 COVID pandemic. As an art history professor, world traveler and lover of great art and art museums, I set out to connect famous art with what was going on in the world around us. First posted on Face Book, it moved into the creation of this website. Click here for additional postings on a Year in the Life of the Pandemic.

“Horse Galloping”

by Eadward Muybridge, 1878, photograph, American

This posting is for horse lovers everywhere!

In honor of the Kentucky Derby horse race which typically runs on the 1^st Saturday in May—until 2020 when its 146^th race has been postponed due to the COVID-19 shutdown. It has been rescheduled to run on September 5.  This scheduling, of course, impacts the other two parts of the infamous Triple Crown (Preakness: 2 weeks later; Belmont Stakes: 3 weeks after that).  And you thought you had scheduling issues?   

In “Horse Galloping,” Muybridge was recruited to resolve a bet about whether all four feet of a horse galloping at top speed are off the ground at any point in the stride. And yes, they are! 

Technically,it is also the birth of the modern moving picture!

The art of his photography not only had an impact on science, but also modern cinema!  Check out his other photographs which use this same concept with almost as interesting results!

Update: On 05 September 2020, the 146th Kentucky Derby ran, but to empty seats.

Update 2021 and 2022: The Kentucky Derby runs again in 2021 with an interesting twist to the fairy tale story of the winner and his tragic ending. Plus horse racing and the art of Degas!

If you enjoyed this post, please let me know with a simple “LIKE” below! Comments are welcome and encourage me in future posts. Thanks! ~Cher

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