George Ford Morris
George Ford Morris- Leading American Equestrian Artist Of His Time
Truly one of my all-time favorite equestrian artists, George Ford Morris, was prolific throughout a career spanning over 70 years. He was equally talented as a painter, sculptor, illustrator, and lithographer.
Saddlebred “Pirate Gold” Reserve Grand Champion 1935
George Ford Morris 1873-1960
Born in St. Joseph, Massachusetts, he was mainly self-taught but attended classes at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1888 and later at the Académie Julien in Paris (1925). Concentrating almost solely upon the art of the horse, George Ford Morris frequently contributed to such publications as The American Horseman, Breeder's Gazette, American Field, National Horseman, and Thoroughbred of California. He also illustrated for national publications, including Scribner's and Century magazines.
Percheron Running Free In The Snow. Oil on Canvas, 1910
Poster for the National Horse Show 1918
He wrote and illustrated Portraitures of Horses and George Ford Morris Animals, the latter of which was published for three consecutive years and bound in Christmas issues of The American Horseman. In addition to being a regular contributor to equestrian and racing magazines, he illustrated for Century and Scribners.
From “Portraiture of Horses” - 1952
At sixteen, he was an illustrator for the magazine, The Horseman, and at seventeen, his illustrations appeared regularly in The American Sportsman, Breeder's Gazette, The Trotter and Pacer, and The Western Horseman.
Persharon Horse- Labres
Morris was said to have been the greatest collector of equine art in America. I am fortunate to have one of his prints…
This is a print of an artwork by George Ford Morris featuring the American Saddlebred mare Katherine Grigsby. I particularly love this because the rider reminds me of the wonderful horsewoman who taught me to ride…Harriett Himmelstine of Riverview Valley Stables in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Sadly, here no more!
Find out more about George Ford Morris at The American Saddlebred Museum in The Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, Kentucky.
Rebecca & Janet Winters
I love horse art, of the kind that Mr. Morris painted. I think it's a form of realism. When we were little kids, and my grandparents lived not far from Chincoteague, Virginia, they took us to see Misty of Chincoteague. As a 3-year-old, I was placed on Misty's back--no pictures, though. 20 some years later, I lived in a house that had previously been a barn. There was a huge window at one end of the loft. The owners told me that the horse artist, Wesley Dennis, had used it as his studio. Wesley Dennis was the artist for the books about Misty, and also a wonderful story about trotting horses, called "Born to Trot". My husband used the studio area for his model railroad trains!