Jockey in Gold

Kirkman’s pictures range from characteristic racing scenes in the long tradition of British Sporting Art to paintings which focus upon the horse in the manner of a psychological study. His work evokes the atmosphere of racing, whether portraying scenes on the course or concentrating upon those private periods of preparation away from the public gaze.

This painting, Jockey in Gold,  depicts a romanticised version of a jockey’s preparation before the race. In his racing colours, with saddle and whip in hand, he approaches the horse in the far distance. The viewer begins to sense the same excitement that is shared between the jockey and the horse as they prepare for an epic trial of speed, endurance, and athleticism to achieve the challenge of victory. Will it be a match of just two horses or a larger field? Will it be the best man or the best horse that wins? The viewer’s imagination is left with a myriad of solutions.