Géricault, Théodore 1791 Rouen - 1824 Paris The Gray. Cheval gris. Oil on canvas. Relined. 46,5 x 55,5cm. Framed. Expert report: - Wildenstein Institute, Paris, 11. July 2012. Provenance: - Private collection, Rhineland. The Wildenstein Institut in Paris will be including this work in Géricault's catalogue raisonné. There are several versions of this painting, including one in the Musée des Beaux Arts, Rouen, Inventarnummer 850.3. The motif is dated as being used in Géricault's oeuvre between 1812 and 1816. The term "Schwarze Romantik" was coined in the 1960s by Prof. Mario Praz to describe a movement in the time before 1800, which was previously recognised by Immanuel Kant. He wrote in "Kritik der Urteilskraft" of the sublime as an aesthetic criteria, the descisive factor of which being its ability to evoke the emotions. This characteristic, which was later named "Schwarzer Romantik" describes a previously unknown aesthetic criteria - that of fear and monumentality. One of the earliest examples of a work in this genre is Johann Heinrich Füssli's Nachtmahr of 1781. A ghostly horse accompanied by an alp stares out towards the viewer. Similar to Füssli's horse, Géricault's gray shows a variety of instincts typical of its species: Fear, shock, vulnerability and even arousal - all shown by the painter in a way that is deeply moving to the viewer. The interpretative spectrum of the piece is further enhanced by the knowledge that Géricault created this piece so close to 'Tamerlan', Napoleon's horse (Tamerlan, Le cheval de l'Empereur, musée des beaux-arts Rouen, Inventarnummer 923.10). However, the artist's other paintings of horses, which often show the influence of his tutor Horace Vernet, rarely display this almost expressionist atmosphere. Along with Eugène Delacroix, Géricault is rightfully seen as a revolutioniser of French art at this time. He thoroughly changed people's ways of looking at art, by turning away from contempory academic tradition and inventing his own ideals. Tragically, he died very early as a result of a riding accident, so his somewhat limited oeuvre is greatly enhanced by this work. This piece, by a historically significant artist whose works are exceedingly hard to come by, is probably the only authentic Géricault painting to be sold on the German market in several centuries.