Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Edward Lamson Henry died in 1919; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1989.
In context
Changing Horses — Edward Lamson Henry
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 78 at death.
Painted when the artist was 39. The artist lived to 78. 25 of the 84 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.
Shaded: the lifetime of Edward Lamson Henry (1841–1919) ▲ this work, 1880 every dated painting, decade by decade
First works: up to 1875 Main working years: 1875–1899 Late works: from 1899
Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/edward-lamson-henry-changing-horses-8XX69L-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Rosy Brown #e0a16c
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 74.4% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 94 works by this artist, of which 31 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 9 of them, with 2.3% of that attention (100 visits). The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
About this artwork
Changing Horses — Edward Lamson Henry
"Changing Horses" by Edward Lamson Henry is a captivating oil on canvas painting that transports viewers to the vibrant era of the old American West. Created in 1880, this masterpiece is housed at the Haggin Museum in the United States.
The painting depicts a bustling scene where people are engaged in the activity of changing horses for their carriages. The atmosphere is lively and dynamic, with multiple horses standing close to each other or further apart, while men ride on horse-drawn carriages. One man is notably sitting atop a carriage pulled by two horses, adding to the sense of movement and energy.
A dog is also present in the scene, located near the right side of the painting, which adds a touch of everyday life to the historical setting. The overall composition suggests a thriving town from the old west era, where horse-drawn carriages were a common mode of transportation.
Edward Lamson Henry was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to capture the essence of American life during the 19th century. "Changing Horses" is a testament to his skill in depicting historical scenes with precision and flair.
For those interested in similar works, Edward Lamson Henry's "Stagecoach" (also at the Haggin Museum) offers another glimpse into the old west. Additionally, Frederick Childe Hassam's "Carriage Parade" at the same museum provides a different perspective on carriage scenes.
"Changing Horses" by Edward Lamson Henry is a significant piece of American art that captures the spirit of the old west. Its detailed and lively depiction makes it a valuable addition to any art collection or study. AllPaintingsStore.com offers high-quality, handmade oil painting reproductions of this masterpiece, allowing art enthusiasts to bring a piece of history into their homes.
Changing Horses by Edward Lamson Henry
Stagecoach by Edward Lamson Henry
Carriage Parade by Frederick Childe Hassam
Discover more about the artist and his works on AllPaintingsStore.com.
For a deeper dive into American art history, visit The Cincinnati Art Club Museum and explore the rich heritage of visual arts in the United States.
Artist and museum
Born in Charleston, United States of America
Edward Lamson Henry, born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1841, wasn’t merely a painter of scenes; he was a chronicler of a vanishing American identity. His canvases evoke a profound sense of nostalgia, meticulously reconstructing moments from the nation's past—from the bustling energy of early railroad travel to the quiet intimacy of domestic life and the lingering shadows of the Civil War. Though his early life was marked by tragedy – orphaned at the age of seven – this perhaps instilled in him a desire to preserve memories, to capture a world slipping away with each passing year. He moved to New York City to live with cousins, beginning his artistic journey amidst the burgeoning cultural landscape of the metropolis and later formalizing his training at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia.
The pivotal moment in Henry’s development arrived in 1860 with his relocation to Paris. This was a period of immense artistic ferment, and Henry found himself immersed in a circle of groundbreaking painters including Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Frédéric Bazille, and Alfred Sisley—artists who would soon redefine the boundaries of art. He studied under Charles Gleyre, absorbing classical techniques, but it was Gustave Courbet’s unflinching realism that truly resonated with him. Courbet's commitment to depicting everyday life without idealization profoundly influenced Henry’s own artistic direction. While he wouldn’t fully embrace Impressionism like his contemporaries, the Parisian experience instilled in him a dedication to capturing authentic moments and a keen observation of light and atmosphere. This period was formative, laying the groundwork for his distinctive style—a blend of meticulous detail and evocative storytelling.
The outbreak of the American Civil War interrupted Henry’s artistic pursuits. He returned to the United States and served as a clerk on a Union transport ship, an experience that would deeply impact his later work. The war's aftermath fueled a series of paintings inspired by his observations—scenes not of grand battles but of everyday life touched by conflict. He settled in New York City, becoming part of the vibrant artistic community centered around the Tenth Street Studio Building, where he shared space with luminaries like Winslow Homer. It was during this time that Henry fully embraced genre painting – depicting scenes of ordinary people and their daily lives. He quickly gained recognition for his ability to recreate historical moments with remarkable accuracy and a touch of quaint humor. In 1869, his election to the National Academy of Design solidified his position within the American art world.
Henry’s paintings are characterized by an extraordinary attention to detail—a meticulous reconstruction of period costumes, architecture, and everyday objects. He wasn't simply painting scenes; he was building worlds. His subjects often revolved around colonial and early American themes, railroad travel, stagecoach journeys, and canal boat life. He became renowned for rendering these scenes on a minute scale, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the intricacies of the past. However, it’s important to note that Henry's work wasn’t purely documentary. He freely admitted to artistic license, prioritizing atmosphere and narrative over strict historical accuracy—creating what contemporaries termed “historical fictions.” This willingness to embellish for emotional effect is a key element of his appeal; he wasn’t interested in simply recording history but in evoking a particular mood and sense of nostalgia. His wife, Frances Livingston Wells, played a crucial role in this process, ensuring the authenticity of details through extensive research using antiques, old photographs, and assorted Americana.
Edward Lamson Henry’s work offers a unique window into 19th-century American culture—a romanticized vision of a simpler past. His paintings resonated with a public eager to embrace a sense of national identity and nostalgia for a bygone era. He was a member of the New-York Historical Society, further cementing his role as a visual historian. His dedication to detail led contemporaries to view his work as authentic reconstructions, even though he often prioritized artistic effect over strict accuracy. Later in life, Henry co-founded an artists’ colony in Cragsmoor, New York, fostering a community dedicated to preserving and celebrating American heritage. While perhaps not as widely recognized today as some of his Impressionist contemporaries, Edward Lamson Henry remains a significant figure in American art history—a master of genre painting whose evocative canvases continue to captivate viewers with their charm, detail, and enduring sense of nostalgia.
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Look closely
Changing Horses — Edward Lamson Henry
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Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
The colors of "Changing Horses" show a bright balance luminance.
"Changing Horses" was created by Edward Lamson Henry. The information on this page describes Edward Lamson Henry's original work.
"Changing Horses" is available as a hand-painted oil reproduction on linen canvas. The order can be placed on its Hand-Painted Reproduction page, with a choice of sizes.