Alexander and Bucephalus
1861-1862
Before he became famous for painting ballerinas and racehorses, a young Edgar Degas tackled ancient history with this dramatic scene. Here, we see the legendary moment when a teenage Alexander the Great tames the wild horse Bucephalus, a beast no one else could ride. Alexander figured out the horse was just scared of its own shadow and turned it toward the sun, a clever trick that impressed the onlookers gathered on the right. It's a fascinating glimpse into Degas's early academic training, long before he helped launch the Impressionist movement!
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