The 1821 Derby at Epsom

Why it's great

Four racehorses are stretched out in mid-gallop, all their legs off the ground, with jockeys in bright colors. Géricault painted the 'flying gallop' at a time before cameras could show how horses really run. We now know that this is not how horses really move! It's a thrilling picture of speed that influenced later artists.

👀 Look closer!

All four horses have their legs stretched out in the air. Is this really how horses gallop?

Where to see it

📍 Louvre MuseumParis, France

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Hang it on your wall

⬇ Hi-res download 11,171 × 8,124 px · 90.8 megapixels · prints up to about 37 × 27 inches at 300 dpi Heads up: this is a huge scan, so the file can be hundreds of megabytes. Right-click and save it rather than opening it in a phone browser. File page & license ↗

Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:

💵 Budget Etsy ↗ Posters and simple prints from small sellers, usually the lowest prices. 🖼️ Mid-range Fine Art America ↗ Good printing on paper, canvas or metal, made to order, with framing options. 🏛️ High-end Meisterdrucke ↗ Museum-grade giclée prints on archival paper or canvas, the closest to the real thing.

These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.

About the artist

Théodore Géricault

1791–1824 · born in Rouen · died in Paris

Théodore Géricault was born in Rouen, France, and grew up in Paris, where he fell in love with horses and dramatic subjects. He studied wounded soldiers and even hospital patients so he could paint with truth. He rose to fame with 'The Raft of the Medusa' at 27. A passionate horse rider, he died in Paris at only 32, partly after riding accidents.