image 211 National Museum of Women in the Arts

The relief depicts a mounted figure, rendered in high relief against a textured background that resembles roughly hewn stone. The composition is dominated by the central presence of a man on horseback, positioned slightly off-center and angled towards the viewer. He wears what appears to be a cloak or mantle draped over his shoulders, its folds meticulously carved to suggest weight and movement. Beneath the cloak, hints of a tunic are visible. His face is partially obscured by shadow and the hood of the cloak, conveying an air of solemnity or perhaps melancholy.
The horse, equally detailed, stands with a degree of restrained energy; its muscles are defined, and its head is turned slightly as if responding to something beyond the frame. The animal’s posture suggests both power and a certain weariness. Below the sculpture, inscribed text provides additional context: He wore the cloak of grandeur it was bright / With stolen promises and colours thin. / But now and then the wind – the wind of night – / Raised it and showed the broken thing within.
The work’s subtexts are layered and complex. The figures attire, particularly the cloak, suggests a position of authority or status, yet the accompanying text introduces an element of disillusionment and fragility. The phrase stolen promises implies a corruption of ideals or a facade concealing inner vulnerability. The wind, acting as a revealing force, exposes this “broken thing within,” hinting at a hidden truth or a personal failing.
The overall effect is one of restrained drama and psychological depth. The artist has skillfully employed the medium of relief to create a sense of monumentality while simultaneously conveying a narrative of loss and internal conflict. The textured background contributes to the work’s gravitas, evoking a feeling of timelessness and suggesting that the depicted figure exists within a larger historical or mythological context.