Ten great horses in art

One of the finest painters of the Tang Dynasty, Han Gan regularly visited the stables of the imperial court to observe the intricacies of equine movement and musculature. In his most powerful work he depicts Night-Shining White, a favourite horse of the Chinese emperor Xuanzong, rearing up on his hind legs and bursting with energy. Note the dozens of seals on the page – marks left by the many collectors and connoisseurs who owned or viewed this scroll over the centuries.