German Horse

This engraving depicts a powerful horse in profile, showcasing the physical characteristics of the German breed. The animal is rendered with dense cross-hatching to emphasize its musculature and noble bearing against a sweeping landscape of hills and a distant town. It is part of a series documenting the diverse breeds found in the royal stables of Don Juan of Austria.

This work belongs to the 'Equile' series, reflecting the Renaissance impulse to systematically catalog and categorize the natural world. In the context of natural philosophy, such works served as a 'theatre of nature,' demonstrating the variety and majesty of creation as curated within the prestigious environment of the princely court.