The artwork “Flora Temple” created by Currier and Ives forms part of the Romanticism movement and can be classified as a genre painting. It is also associated with a series dedicated to Horse Racing. The image depicts a moment of action within the sport, showcasing a horse harnessed to a sulky, with a driver holding the reins and a whip.
Looking at the artwork itself, we see a dynamic scene featuring a bay horse mid-gait, muscles tensed, as it gallops across the frame to the right. The horse is harnessed to a lightweight, two-wheeled cart, known as a sulky, typical of harness racing. The wheels of the sulky have a noticeable radial spoke pattern which is highlighted in red, contrasting with the natural tones of the setting.
The driver is dressed in a traditional racing attire with a cap, collared shirt, and vest, sitting attentively in the sulky. The driver’s posture and focused gaze forward suggest the intensity and concentration of the race. Additionally, the whip is lifted, denoting the action and speed of the moment.
In the background, you can see the tranquil setting of a landscape, which includes a broad expanse of fields with some water bodies, reflecting the Romantic era’s inclination to incorporate nature. There’s also an indication of life with distant structures, possibly farms or homesteads, and trees scattered across the horizon under a clear sky. The attention to detail in the horse’s anatomy and the scenery, as well as the vibrancy of the colors, emphasize the spirited essence typical of the Romantic art movement’s expression of emotion and grandeur.