The history of Chinese art has seen many great artists who have excelled at depicting horses, including Yu Danian from the 18th century and modern artist Chang Yu (Sanyu). [Photo by Jiang Dong/chinadaily.com.cn]

The long course of Chinese art history has seen many artists use horses as subjects of their works. With fine brushwork, they highlighted the vigor of the animals by portraying the horse's role in rural customs, hunting, and recreation.

Feeding the Horse, a vivid work by an anonymous Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) painter, celebrates the horse's robust profile, while evoking a mood of solitude and meditation. The painting has been in the collection of theNational Art Museum of Chinain Beijing and is now a highlight of the museum's ongoing exhibition for the Year of the Horse,Galloping Through the Clouds.Running until March 8, it brings together horse-inspired works by artists from a multitude of eras.

National Art Museum's New year exhibition leaps into springBY LIN QI|CHINADAILY.COM.CN|UPDATED: 2026-02-13 12:19

The history of Chinese art has seen many great artists who have excelled at depicting horses, including Yu Danian from the 18th century and modern artist Chang Yu (Sanyu). [Photo by Jiang Dong/chinadaily.com.cn]

Galloping Through the Clouds, at the National Art Museum of China, brings together horse-inspired art from across the ages. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]