First published in London in 1727, BARON D’EISENBERG’s The Art of Riding a Horse was successfully reprinted many times. Besides being a great horseman, the author was also a gifted writer and skilled at drawing and painting. D’Eisenberg himself drew the famous illustrations for his book, which were subsequently engraved by B. Picart. The illustrations emphasize the subtleties of the art of riding while avoiding “the unnecessary prolixity of speech, in order not to bore” the reader. D’Eisenberg knew that his readership, at the time, was quite familiar with academic horsemanship, so his purpose was to show the correct attitude of the animal and of the rider while performing specific exercises. His descriptions are very clear for the modern reader, and they are rich with interesting detail.
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