The Master's Eye Makes the Horse Fat by Jacob Jordaens. A dynamic oil painting showing a master overseeing a servant feeding a powerful, rearing white horse while the god Mercury stands by.

The Master's Eye Makes the Horse Fat

Jacob Jordaens

1645 · Oil Paint, Canvas

An impressive Flemish Baroque scene illustrating the power of oversight and the majesty of the horse.

$129

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6 frame sizes

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Where it works

A bold work with active energy with warm, lived-in color — holds a formal wall with confidence.

Often works in
Living Room · Library · Study
Placement
Reads best above substantial furniture or an open wall
Walls
Best where a lighter wall gives it room to show
Color notes
Charcoal black, Deep burgundy, Soft gray

About the piece

Painted in 1645 by Jacob Jordaens, this masterpiece captures a lively scene centered around a magnificent rearing white horse. The composition blends everyday realism with mythological elements, featuring the god Mercury and a master in fine robes, rendered with the robust vitality and luminous color characteristic of the Flemish Baroque style.

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