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Notes
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To create this pose, the artist has elongated the horse’s neck and enlarged its head, but the unusual viewpoint helps to disguise these strange proportions. The subject was meant to be seen as heroic as well as tragic, to show that fulfilling duty can sometimes be difficult. Today, the idea of putting a helpless animal out of its misery in this way is more controversial and the painting often arouses quite different emotional reactions.
Title
Cruel to be Kind
Date
1882
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 76.5 x W 107 cm
Accession number
NAM. 1960-05-50
Acquisition method
gift from Mr Philip Spink, 1960
Work type
Painting