Albert Pinkham Ryder (1847-1917)

Olje på lerret, 72×89,5cm, Cleveland Museum of Art.

I forbindelse med dette maleriet opplyser muséet:

Ryder’s subject was inspired by a horse race that took place in New York during 1888. One of the artist’s friends wagered $500 on the race and then committed suicide after the horse lost. Medieval symbolism infuses the composition: death appears as a skeleton on horseback holding a scythe with which he cuts down the living, while a snake-a sign of temptation and evil-slithers in the foreground. An intense man, Ryder worked on the painting for several years and was deeply reluctant to part with it.

Bildet er også inspirert av de fire ryttere som beskrives i Johannes’ åpenbaring, hvor rytteren på den hvite hest representerer pest, på den røde hest krig, den svarte hest hungersnød og den siste, på den bleke hest selve Døden.